The National Judicial Council has recommended the compulsory retirement of two judges.
So also did the council constitute a 10-man committee to put in place modalities for the courts to resume sitting amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
The Council, under the Chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, I. T. Muhammad, also appointed 70 judicial officers.
These were the major highlights of the 91st Meeting of the Council held online on April 22 and 23, 2020.
The Committee saddled with the responsibility of com ing up with urgent practical strategic measures to ensure Courts continue to function despite the lockdown and COVID-19 challenges has as Chairman, Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, while the members are Justice M. B. Dongban-Mensem; Justice J. T. Tsoho; Justice B. B. Kanyip; Justice Ishaq Bello; Justice Kashim Zannah; Justice O. A. Ojo; Paul Usoro (SAN); A. B. Mahmoud (SAN); and D. D. Dodo (SAN).
The Committee has as Terms of Reference: To come up with Guidelines or template for implementation; To explore possible areas of collaboration between the Judiciary and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, stakeholders in the Justice Administration and Development Partners in Justice Administration Sector; and Any other measures that the Committee may deem fit in realising these objectives. The Committee has 14 days to submit its Report.
The Council at the meeting also recommended the compulsory retirement of Justice Francis Chukwuma Abosi, Acting President, Customary Court of Appeal, Imo State, and Justice Aliyu Musa Liman of the Bauchi State High Court of Justice with immediate effect.
Abosi was recommended for compulsory retirement following the falsification of his date of birth from 1950 to 1958.
Findings showed that he was supposed to have retired in November 2015 when he clocked the mandatory retirement age of 65.
Council decided to recommend for his compulsory retirement to Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and to also deduct the salaries he had earned from November 2015 to date from his retirement benefit.
Liman was recommended to the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, for compulsory retirement pursuant to the findings by the Council for his failure to deliver judgement in suit No BA/100/2010 between Abubakar Isa and Sheik Tahir Usman Bauchi within the three months period stipulated by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Council said it viewed his failure to deliver judgement for nearly four years as a misconduct, contrary to Section 292 (1) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended and Rules 1.3 and 3.7 of the 2016 Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the National Judicial Council, in the exercise of its disciplinary powers under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, has suspended Abosi and Liman from office pending the approval of the recommendation of the Council for his compulsory retirement to the their respective State Governors.
Petitions against the following Judicial Officers: Hon. Justice O. A. Musa of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Hon. Justices Muhammed A. Sambo and Sa’ad Ibrahim Zadawa of the High Court of Justice, Bauchi State were dismissed for either lacking in merit or being subjudice.
Council also decided to report Apeiyi Becon Clement, Ifeanyi Egwasi, Nwafor Orizu, Godwin Nkemjika Chukwukwere, Akopde Haggai Ukuku, Chief Emefo Etudo, Osamudiamen Obarogie and B. S. Onuegbu to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for various acts unbecoming of a Legal Practitioner ranging from unruly behaviour, walking out of court in the cause of proceedings, to submission of false documents to Court.
The Council at the meeting also considered the Report of its Interview Committee and recommended 70 Judicial Officers for appointment as President, Court of Appeal, Grand Kadis, President, Customary Court of Appeal and Judges of High Court of States and the Federal Capital Territory and Kadis of States Sharia Courts of Appeal.
The Council also formally launched its Twitter handle: @njcNIG.
It will launch its other platforms at a later date.
