The National Judicial Council (NJC) has warned and barred no fewer than two judges from elevation to higher bench for some time.
This was contained in a statement by the Director of Information of NJC, Soji Oye, on Friday, May 17, 2024. The affected judges are Justices Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court, and Amina Shehu of Yobe High Court.
Ekwo was warned for abuse of the discretionary power of a judge by wrongly granting an ex parte order in Suit No FHC/ABJ/C/626/2023 Juliet Ebere Nwadi Gbaka & 2 Ors V Seplat Energy Plc & 12 Ors, he was also barred from being elevated to a higher bench for a period of two years.
Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court was issued a warning for failure to deliver judgement within the stipulated period in Joseph Anene Okafor Vs Skye Bank, Suit No A/94/2010 after parties had filed and adopted their final Written Addresses. Brikins-Okolosi will also not be elevated to a higher bench for a period of three years.
The council also cautioned Justice Amina Shehu of Yobe State High Court for issuing Writ of Possession Conferring Title on the Defendant in Suit No YBS/HC/NNR/1cv/2020 when there was no subsisting judgement of any court to enable the judge issue the Writ.
The NJC said the council at its meeting considered two reports of its two Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees that filtered 35 petitions written against judges of the Federal and State High Courts and decided to empanel eight committees to further investigate the petitions that were found meritorious by the committees. It said some petitions against various judges were dismissed for lack of merit, evidence of misconduct, sub-judice, or that they were matters that could be appealed.
The dismissed petitions were against Justices A. M. Liman, A. A. Okeke, D. E. Osiagor of the Federal High Court, S. B. Belgore, Bello Kawu both of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, Justices O. A. Chijioke, A. E. Akeredolu and Kadi M. U. El-Mainari who sat on Election Petition Tribunal in Edo State, Justices Paulinus Aneke of High Court Enugu State, and C. Anya of Abia State.
Others are Justices M. A. Ikpambese and W. I. Kpochi both of Benue High Court, T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka Chief Judge and B. C. Iheka of Imo High Court, Rose Godwin Soji of Nasarawa High Court, T. J. Yakubu, High Court Taraba, W. N. Danagogo and Chinwendu Nworgu, High Court Rivers State, C. C. Okaa, High Court Anambra State, and Justice Abdullahi Sulyman High Court, Kogi.
It said the council also deliberated on the notification of retirements of three judicial officers including that of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, and the notification of the death of three judges of the Federal and State Courts.
