The National Judicial Council (NJC), has lifted the suspension placed on some judicial officers, who were previously directed to step aside on the advise of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, pending the determination of allegations of corruption and professional misconduct brought against them.
The decision to recall them to their duties was reached at the 82nd meeting of the body held on May 31 and June 1. In a statement by its Director of Information, Soji Oye, NJC said the affected judges and justices of the Supreme Court are expected to resume on Wednesday June 7, explaining that the meeting, which was chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, considered cases involving eight judicial officers.
The statement recalled that the affected judicial officers were directed to excuse themselves from office with effect from November 2, 2016 “to maintain the integrity and sanctity of the judiciary and sustain public confidence.”
“After deliberations,” the statement read, “Council noted that out of the judicial officers directed to excuse themselves from performing their official duties, only three have been charged to court. The trial of Justice Ademola has been concluded and he has been discharged and acquitted of the charges filed against him.
“In view of the foregoing, council decided that the various heads of courts should direct the following judicial officers to resume their judicial duties with effect from Wednesday June 7, as there are already backlog of cases in their various courts for the past eight months.
“They include Justice John Inyang Okoro, of the Supreme Court; Justice Uwani Abba Aji of the Court of Appeal; Justice Hydiazira A. Nganjiwa, of the Federal High Court; Justice A. Ademola of the Federal High Court, who has been discharged and acquitted; Justice Musa H. Kurya, of the Federal High Court, and Justice Agbadu James Fishim, of National Industrial Court of Nigeria.”
The council further decided to warn Justice M. N. Esowe, of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice Adolphus Enebeli, of the High Court of Justice, Rivers State and Justice Bassey Frank Etuk, of the Akwa Ibom State High Court for different offences.
Council said it considered and dismissed petitions written against 12 other judicial officers as three of the petitioners withdrew their petitions against the Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice T. U. Uzokwe, Justice Okoroafor of the Abia State High Court, and Justice Judge Okeke of the FCT High Court of Justice.
“One petition written against Justice H. A. Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court was also dismissed for subjudice. Other petitions written against Justices Adamu Abdu-Kafarati, and Okon Abang, both of the Federal High Court, Justices Mobolaji Ojo and E. O. Osinuga, both of the Ogun State High Court, Justice B. A. Oke-Lawal, of Lagos State High Court, Justice A. A. Aderemi of Oyo State, Ntong F. Ntong of Akwa Ibom State High Court and the second petition against Justice Bassey Frank Etuk of Akwa Ibom State High Court of Justice were found unmeritorious,” the statement read.