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The decision to recall the six judges that were suspended following raids on their houses last year by personnel of the Department of Security Service (DSS) was hinged on the lack of a case against them, the National Judicial Council (NJC) said yesterday.
The council announced the reinstatement of the six and other judges after its 82nd meeting held on May 31 and June 1, 2017 in Abuja.
According to a statement signed by NJC’s Director of Information, Soji Oye, the meeting had considered the cases of eight judicial officers who were directed to recuse themselves from duties on the request of the Attorney-General of the Federation, pending the outcome of investigations against them.
The NJC noted that out of the six, only Justice N. S. Ngwuta of the Supreme Court, Justice A. F. A. Ademola of the Federal High Court and Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court had been charged to court.
“The trial of Hon. Justice A. F. A. 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 court should direct the following judicial officers to resume their judicial duties with effect from Wednesday June 7, 2017, as there are already a backlog of cases in their various courts for the past eight months: Hon. Justice John Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Uwani Abba Aji of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Hydiazira A. Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice A. F. A. Ademola of the Federal High Court, who has been discharged and acquitted, Hon. Justice Musa H. Kurya of the Federal High Court, and Hon. Justice Agbadu James Fishim of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.
The NJC said it asked the judges to recuse themselves with effect from November 2, 2016 on the request of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) pending the outcome of investigations in order “to maintain the integrity and sanctity of the judiciary and sustain public confidence.”
The council announced the reinstatement of the six and other judges after its 82nd meeting held on May 31 and June 1, 2017 in Abuja.
According to a statement signed by NJC’s Director of Information, Soji Oye, the meeting had considered the cases of eight judicial officers who were directed to recuse themselves from duties on the request of the Attorney-General of the Federation, pending the outcome of investigations against them.
The NJC noted that out of the six, only Justice N. S. Ngwuta of the Supreme Court, Justice A. F. A. Ademola of the Federal High Court and Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court had been charged to court.
“The trial of Hon. Justice A. F. A. 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 court should direct the following judicial officers to resume their judicial duties with effect from Wednesday June 7, 2017, as there are already a backlog of cases in their various courts for the past eight months: Hon. Justice John Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Uwani Abba Aji of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Hydiazira A. Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice A. F. A. Ademola of the Federal High Court, who has been discharged and acquitted, Hon. Justice Musa H. Kurya of the Federal High Court, and Hon. Justice Agbadu James Fishim of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.
The NJC said it asked the judges to recuse themselves with effect from November 2, 2016 on the request of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) pending the outcome of investigations in order “to maintain the integrity and sanctity of the judiciary and sustain public confidence.”
