NJC bars suspected corrupt judges from hearing cases

The National Judicial Council, NJC, has barred judges being
tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged
corruption, from sitting.

No fewer than two judges are being affected by the development,
which came as a shock to the suspects.

Those affected by the latest order by the NJC
are: Justice H.A Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court and
Justice Agbadu James Fishim of the National Industrial court.

Both were among indicted judicial officers whom the NJC had in
November 2016 barred from performing judicial duties until the
anticipated cases against them are concluded.

But the Council inexplicably lifted the order after its meeting
of June 1, 2017, and directed the indicted judicial officers
against whom no charges had been filed, to return to their
posts.

However, the EFCC charged Justice Nganjiwa and Justice Fishim to
court on June 8 and June 21 respectively while both men continued
to sit on the bench while being prosecuted for alleged
corruption.

Sources at the NJC disclosed that the council mindful of the
ethical dilemma that confronts the officers has since reviewed the
situation and ordered the heads of their respective courts to
direct the two judges to stop sitting in line with council’s
decision of 1st and 2nd November, 2016, as charges have now been
filed against them”.

TheNigerialawyer learnt that the directive has already been
communicated to the investigative agencies.

It was also leant that Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the
Federal High Court, who is also standing trial for corruption,
remains suspended from judicial duties as she was not among the
officers recalled by the NJC on June 1, as the basis for the
council’s decision to recall the indicted judges did not apply in
her case, having already been charged to court by the EFCC.

The National Judicial Council, NJC, has barred judges being
tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged
corruption, from sitting.

No fewer than two judges are being affected by the development,
which came as a shock to the suspects.

Those affected by the latest order by the NJC
are: Justice H.A Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court and
Justice Agbadu James Fishim of the National Industrial court.

Both were among indicted judicial officers whom the NJC had in
November 2016 barred from performing judicial duties until the
anticipated cases against them are concluded.

But the Council inexplicably lifted the order after its meeting
of June 1, 2017, and directed the indicted judicial officers
against whom no charges had been filed, to return to their
posts.

However, the EFCC charged Justice Nganjiwa and Justice Fishim to
court on June 8 and June 21 respectively while both men continued
to sit on the bench while being prosecuted for alleged
corruption.

Sources at the NJC disclosed that the council mindful of the
ethical dilemma that confronts the officers has since reviewed the
situation and ordered the heads of their respective courts to
direct the two judges to stop sitting in line with council’s
decision of 1st and 2nd November, 2016, as charges have now been
filed against them”.

TheNigerialawyer learnt that the directive has already been
communicated to the investigative agencies.

It was also leant that Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the
Federal High Court, who is also standing trial for corruption,
remains suspended from judicial duties as she was not among the
officers recalled by the NJC on June 1, as the basis for the
council’s decision to recall the indicted judges did not apply in
her case, having already been charged to court by the EFCC.