The National Judicial Council (NJC) has established four investigative panels to probe 27 High Court judges who are facing allegations of misconduct.
In addition to launching these investigations, the NJC issued a cautionary letter to Justice O. M. Olagunju of the Oyo State High Court, advising him to exercise greater caution in his judicial duties, even under challenging circumstances. This follows Justice Olagunju’s use of inappropriate language in a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, in which he questioned the council’s decisions and policies regarding the appointment of the President of the Customary Court of Appeal in Oyo State.
During its 106th meeting, presided over by the outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, the NJC reviewed the report from its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee. The report, which addressed 22 petitions filed against the 27 judicial officers from Federal and State High Courts, led the council to determine that four committees would investigate the petitions deemed to have merit.
Mr. Soji Oye, the NJC’s Director of Information, revealed in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja that 18 of the petitions were dismissed for reasons including lack of merit, abandonment, or because they were sub judice. Among those whose petitions were dismissed are prominent judicial figures such as Hon. Justice Monica B. Dongban-Mensem, President of the Court of Appeal, and other justices of the Court of Appeal and Federal High Courts.
Furthermore, the NJC has placed five judges on a pre-sanction watch list due to poor performance. These judges will be recommended for appropriate sanctions if their performance does not improve.
This meeting marked the final session for Justice Ariwoola as Chief Justice of Nigeria. He expressed gratitude for the support he received from council members and the NJC secretariat, urging them to extend the same cooperation to his successor. Council members, in turn, praised Justice Ariwoola for his leadership and wished him good health in his retirement.
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