The National Judicial Council (NJC) has initiated a probe into alleged judicial misconduct by 27 high court judges across the country. To this end, the NJC has set up four investigative panels following the review of 22 petitions during its 106th meeting, chaired by the outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola.
In a significant move, the NJC issued a letter of advice to Justice O. M. Olagunju of the Oyo State High Court, urging him to maintain decorum in both actions and language, even under difficult circumstances. This followed Justice Olagunju’s inappropriate language in a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, where he questioned the NJC’s decision regarding the appointment of the President of the Customary Court of Appeal in Oyo State.
Meanwhile, the NJC dismissed 18 petitions against various judges for lack of merit, being abandoned, or being subjudice. Among the judges cleared were Hon. Justice Monica B. Dongban-Mensem, 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 of the Court of Appeal.
Other judges whose petitions were dismissed include Hon. Justice John Tsoho, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, and Justices Z. B. Abubakar, James Kolawole Omotosho, Sunday B. Onu, and Okon E. Abang of the Federal High Court. Also included were Hon. Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court, Hon. Justice Babagana Karumi of the High Court Borno State, Hon. Justice Maimuna A. Abubakar of the High Court of Niger State, Hon. Justice A. A. Aderibigbe of Osun State High Court, and Hon. Justice Aisha B. Aliyu of Nasarawa State High Court.
In addition to these actions, five judges were placed on the NJC’s pre-sanction Watch List for poor performance. These judges will be recommended for appropriate sanctions if they fail to improve.
As this was the last meeting before his retirement, Justice Ariwoola expressed his gratitude for the cooperation he received from NJC members and the Council’s Secretariat, urging them to extend the same support to his successor. In return, the Council members praised the outgoing Chief Justice and wished him good health in retirement.
