The National Judicial Council (NJC) has set up four investigation panels to review allegations of judicial misconduct against 27 high court judges across the country.
Additionally, the NJC issued a letter of advice to Justice O. M. Olagunju of the Oyo State High Court, urging caution in his conduct as a judicial officer. Justice Olagunju was reported to have used inappropriate language in a letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, challenging the NJC’s decisions and policies regarding the appointment of the President of the Court of the Customary Court of Appeal in Oyo State.
During its 106th meeting, chaired by outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Olukayode Ariwoola, the NJC reviewed the Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee’s report on 22 petitions against 27 judicial officers from the Federal and State High Courts.
Based on this report, the NJC formed four committees to investigate the valid allegations found in the petitions. However, 18 petitions were dismissed as lacking merit, abandoned, or deemed subjudice.
The dismissed petitions involved:
- Justice Monica B. Dongban-Mensem, President of the Court of Appeal
- Justices E. O. Williams Dawodu, B. A. Georgewill, Yargata Timpar, S. D. Samchi, Aisha B. Aliyu, A. A. Aderibigbe, M. L. Shuaibu, H. A. O. Abiru, and Abdulazeez Waziri of the Court of Appeal
- Justice John Tsoho, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court
- Justices Z. B. Abubakar, James Kolawole Omotosho, and Sunday B. Onu of the Federal High Court
- Justice Okon E. Abang, formerly of the Federal High Court
- Justices Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court, Babagana Karumi of the Borno State High Court, Maimuna A. Abubakar of the Niger State High Court, A. A. Aderibigbe of the Osun State High Court, and Aisha B. Aliyu of the Nasarawa State High Court
The NJC also placed five judges on a pre-sanction watchlist due to poor performance. These judges will face recommendations for appropriate sanctions if their performance does not improve.
In his final meeting before retirement, CJN Ariwoola thanked the NJC members and Secretariat for their cooperation and requested they extend the same support to his successor. The Council members praised the outgoing CJN and wished him well in his retirement.
