NJC suspends 3 judges, reverses Imo acting CJ’s appointment

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has approved the suspension of three judicial officers for misconduct and reversed the appointment of an acting Chief Judge for Imo State. The three judicial officers suspended for one year without pay are: Justices Jane E. Inyang (Court of Appeal, Uyo Division); Inyang Ekwo (Federal High Court, Abuja Division); and […]

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has approved the suspension of three judicial officers for misconduct and reversed the appointment of an acting Chief Judge for Imo State.

The three judicial officers suspended for one year without pay are: Justices Jane E. Inyang (Court of Appeal, Uyo Division); Inyang Ekwo (Federal High Court, Abuja Division); and Aminu Baffa (Federal High Court, Zamfara Division).

The NJC also approved the reversal of the appointment of the Imo State Acting Chief Judge Theophilus Nnamdi Nzeukwu by Governor Hope Uzodinma despite not being the most senior serving judge in the state.

It issued a seven-day notice to show cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against him to Justice V. U. Okorie, the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Imo State, who acted as Interim Chairman of Imo State Judicial Service Commission and recommended the appointment of Justice Nzeukwu.

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A statement by the Director of Information of the NJC, Kemi Ogedengbe Babalola said the decisions were reached at the NJC’s 108th meeting held on April 29 and 30 and presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

The statement disclosed that council at the meeting, finally resolved that henceforth, the names of candidates being considered for appointment as Judicial Officers to Superior Courts of Records would be published for information and comments by the public.

“The primary objective of this initiative is to solicit comments from the public where there is objection to the integrity, reputation and/or competence of the candidates by opening the process to public participation and scrutiny.”

The statement also disclosed that the council placed the three judges on one year suspension each without for violating Rule 3 (1) and 5 of the 2016 Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers for acts of judicial misconduct.

Justice Inyang was found to have abused her office by issuing inappropriate ex parte orders for the sale of Hon. Udeme Esset’s petrol station and other businesses at interlocutory stage of the case in suit no FHC/UY/CS/46/2023, done before her elevation to the Court of Appeal.

Similarly, Justice Ekwo was suspended for one year without pay, placed on watch-list for five  years and barred from elevation for five years for delivered a ruling in a pending application in suit no: FHC/ABJ/CR/184/2021 without hearing the parties.

“His lordship ignored an application to set aside the proceedings of the court conducted in the absence of the parties. Subsequently, his lordship proceeded to deliver a ruling dismissing the charge against the defendants,” the statement read.

Further, the NJC indicted Justice Baffa over suit no: FHC/GS/CS/30/2021 between the Government of Zamfara State and the EFCC wherein he was found to have granted an order restraining security agencies from carrying out their statutory duties, and disregarded the doctrine of stare decisis in adjudication of the case.

The council also issued a letter of caution to Justice A. O. Awogboro of Federal High Court, Lagos Division in a petition filed by one Kasali Azeez Olagoke and S. Hamza in suit no: FHC/CS/2021 between Chief Adesanya Musediku against Assistant General of Police, Onikan, Zone 2.

The council discountenanced a petition by Mrs Adaku Amadi against Hon. Justice R. B. Haastrup of the National Industrial Court, as the Petitioner withdrew her complaints.

“Council equally considered the report of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee, which contained a total number of forty-three (43) petitions. Nine (9) Committees were empanelled for further investigation of eleven (11)petitions, while twenty-nine (29) petitions were dismissed 7for lacking in merit. Three (3) petitions against Hon. Justice Abubakar Babashani of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory; Hon. Justice Isaac Essien of the National Industrial Court; and Hon. Justice A. O. Musa of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory by Henry Chinweike Okoro; Ikemefuna Stephen Nwoye, Esq.; and Lassborn Chichebem Orjiugo, respectively, were put in abeyance pending the decisions of the Court of Appeal,” the statement read.