15 High Court judges to face NJC Panel for misconduct

The National Judicial Council NJC is set to investigate allegations of misconduct against some of its judicial officers. 

A statement by NJC Director of Information, Soji Oye said the Council, during its 99th meeting, held earlier in the week, has set up probe committees to look into the case of judicial misconduct by 15 judges from both the Federal and State High Courts. 

What are the offenses of the judicial officers? 

Some judicial officers have been in the news lately for one form of misconduct or impropriety to the other. Not too long ago, concerns were raised about conflicting judgments delivered by some judges.

You would recall that sometime in August 2021, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad summoned six judges to explain the conflicting court orders they gave in cases involving the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, and the Peoples’ Democratic Party PDP. 

According to the statement, the decision to probe the 15 High Court judges “is a sequel to the submissions of recommendations of three preliminary complaints assessment committees which considered 66 petitions forwarded to them by the council from all over the federation”. 

The probe committees are expected to determine the culpability of the judges based on the various petitions brought against them by some individuals and corporate bodies. 

The statement, however, did not disclose the specific nature of alleged offenses against the judges nor their names and divisions.  

The statement also revealed that the NJC dismissed petitions against 51 judicial officers of the Federal and State high courts “for either lack of merit, being prejudiced, or being matters for an appeal or that the concerned judge has retired from service.”