Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has suspended a Supreme Court
judge who is facing gross misconduct allegations.
Justice Jackton Ojwang will appear before a seven-member
tribunal, which has been appointed to investigate the charges that
include accepting bribes to influence judgements.
President Kenyatta suspended Justice Ojwang following the
recommendations of the judicial service commission.
A statement from the commission says it also found reasonable
grounds to remove the judge from the bench over conflict of
interest and breach of the judicial code of conduct.
He has not commented on his suspension.
Justice Ojwang was at the centre of public attention in 2017
when he disagreed with the decision of the majority of judges on
the Supreme Court to annul Mr Kenyatta’s victory in elections,
forcing a re-run of the poll.
Justice Ojwang’s suspension further taints the battered image of
Kenya’s judiciary, which many Kenyans see as corrupt and
incompetent.
Kenya’s Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu is also facing
corruption claims.
She has challenged the allegations in court as she seeks to
block her prosecution and possible removal from office.
Kwara State Governor-Elect Names 80-Member Transition
Committee
Kwara State Governor-elect AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has announced
an 80-member Transition Committee (TC).
The Governor-elect made the announcement in a statement issued
in Ilorin, the state capital, on Wednesday by his media spokesman
Rafiu Ajakaye.
The Chairman of the 80-member Transition Committee is Aminu
Adisa Logun, an alumnus of the Prestigious National Institute for
Policy and Strategic Studies(NIPPS), Kuru. Chief James Bamisaiye
Ayeni is Deputy Chairman, while a one-time Permanent Secretary and
former Clerk, Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Muhammad Razaq
Umar, will serve as Secretary.
Other members of the Committee include the APC Chairman in the
State, Hon. Bashir Bolarinwa; the three Senatorial District Party
Chairmen; former Governorship aspirants or representatives; party
chieftains and elders.
Also included in the committee are representatives of youth,
women, labour, experts and professionals in different fields of
human endeavour, including retired military and security
officers.
The broad representation reflected in the selection of the
committee members demonstrates the avowed commitment of the
Governor-elect to fulfil his promise of an all-inclusive government
under the new APC administration in the State.
The composition of the TC also took into account best practices
in a number of states, where a holistic change of leadership
occurred, AbdulRazaq added.
He listed the terms of reference for the committee to include
liaising with the outgoing government to facilitate smooth
transition to the new government on May 29, 2019, engagement of
ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), review of the
finances of the outgoing government with a focus on receipts,
assets, and liabilities, among others.
The committee is also mandated to come up with policy
recommendations for the incoming administration.
He expressed great optimism on the capacity of the committee
members to deliver on their assignment, given their pedigree, track
record, competence and evident public testimonials on their
integrity, patriotism, and passion to serve the state.
AbdulRazaq charged the committee members to be sensitive to the
high expectation of the electorate and the general public to
experience the desired positive change in leadership while
appealing to the masses to support the committee with relevant
information and memoranda where necessary. The Transition Committee
will be inaugurated on Thursday, 4th April 2019 at Arca Santa Event
Hall, Ajase Ipo road, Ilorin at 9 a.m.
Rafiu Ajakaye
Spokesman to the Governor-elect