The National Judicial Council (NJC) has formed four probe panels to investigate 27 high court judges in Nigeria over allegations of judicial misconduct. This decision followed a review of 22 petitions against these judges during the NJC’s 106th meeting on Friday. The meeting was chaired by outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola.
The NJC’s Director of Information, Soji Oye, stated that while some petitions were deemed valid and warranted further investigation, 18 others were dismissed for lacking merit or being abandoned.
Among the judges under scrutiny is Justice O. M. Olagunju of the Oyo State High Court, who received a letter of advice from the NJC for using inappropriate language in a letter to the Chief Justice.
The dismissed petitions involve Justice Monica B. Dongban-Mensem, the President of the Court of Appeal, along with 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, all from the Court of Appeal.
Other judges whose petitions were dismissed include Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court, Justice Babagana Karumi of the Borno State High Court, Justice Maimuna A. Abubakar of the Niger State High Court, Justice A. A. Aderibigbe of the Osun State High Court, and Justice Aisha B. Aliyu of the Nasarawa State High Court.
The NJC also placed five judges on a pre-sanction watchlist due to poor performance. If their performance does not improve, they may face disciplinary action.
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