The National Judicial Council (NJC) announced on Friday the formation of panels to investigate allegations of judicial misconduct against eight judges.
These panels were established after the NJC’s Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees reviewed 35 petitions and found them to be meritorious.
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However, the NJC dismissed petitions against 20 other High Court judges due to lack of merit, insufficient evidence, or because the issues raised were sub judice or could be appealed.
The NJC issued stern warnings to two judges: Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja and Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of the Delta State High Court.
Justice Ekwo was reprimanded for abusing discretionary power by wrongly granting an ex parte order, resulting in a two-year bar on his promotion to the appellate court.
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Justice Brikins-Okolosi received a warning for failing to deliver a judgment within the required timeframe and was barred from promotion for three years.
The decisions were made during the NJC’s 105th plenary meeting on May 15 and 16.
The NJC also approved the elevation of 22 judges to the Court of Appeal, including Justice Nyesom-Wike Eberechi Suzzette, wife of the former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
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Additionally, 64 other judges were recommended for appointment to various lower courts, pending approval by President Bola Tinubu and the respective state governors.
The NJC deliberated on the retirement notifications of three judicial officers, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, and acknowledged the deaths of three federal and state court judges.
The NJC’s statement, signed by its Director of Information, Soji Oye, outlined these actions and provided details on the judges involved.
It also emphasized that several petitions were dismissed due to lack of merit or because they concerned issues that were appealable.
The Council recommended 86 judicial officers for various appointments, including 22 to the Court of Appeal, 12 to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, seven to the Imo State High Court, six to the Bauchi State High Court, three to the Taraba State High Court, 13 to the Lagos State High Court, four to the Kogi State High Court, two to the Jigawa State High Court, five to the Sharia Court of Appeal in Bauchi State, five to the Sharia Court of Appeal in Kogi State, one to the Sharia Court of Appeal in Jigawa State, three to the Imo State Customary Court of Appeal, two to the Taraba State Customary Court of Appeal, and one to the Kogi State Customary Court of Appeal.
The NJC concluded by stating that all recommended candidates are expected to be sworn in following the approval of their appointments by the President and their respective state governors.
