The National Judicial Council (NJC) has set up committees to probe seven judges from different states due to findings by various preliminary committees.ย
The NJC stated this on Friday in a statement signed by the director of information, Soji Oye.ย
The statement explained that the resolution to further probe the judges was reached at the 102nd meeting presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the Judicial Council, Justice Kayode Ariwoola on the 14th and 15th June.ย
The statement also affirmed that the council came up with a policy that barred judicial officers from switching from the High Court of Justice to the customary Court of Appeal and vice versa.ย
โPetition against the remaining Judicial Officers were either dismissed for lack of merit, lack of diligent prosecution, withdrawal of the petition, being subjudice, and for the subject Judge having retired from service,โ the statement read in parts.
The statement went further to list the names of the Judicial officers whose names were mentioned in the reports and petitions by the various investigation committees.ย
โThe dismissed petitions were written against Hon. Justice Mary Peter Odili, Rtd Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justices A. R. Barka, James G. Abundaga, O. O. Olasumbo Goodluck, Ibrahim A. Andetur-Yangsto all of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justices F. O. Liman, A. R. Mohammed, H. A. A. Dashen, Peter Lifu, F. O. G. Ogunbanjo, A. Lewis Allagoa, D. E. Osiagor all of the Federal High Court;
โOthers are Hon. Justice Theresa O. Diai, Chief Judge, Delta State, Hon. Justices S. B. Belgore, K. N. Ogbonnaya Jude Onwuegbuzie, Edward Okpe of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Hon. Justices Joseph I Acha, Vesty O. Eboreime, both of High Court, Edo State, Hon. Justices Thelma Adanna Achom, Elvis A. Ngene of the Ebonyi State High Court, Hon. Justices A. B. Usman, M. M. Abubakar of Bauchi State High Court, Hon. Justice O. A. Opesanwo of the Lagos State High Court, Justice Oladiran Akintola of Oyo State High Court, Justice Gegele A. Hammed of Kwara State High Court, Justice K. N. Udobong of Akwa-Ibom State High Court, Justice B. C. Iheka, Imo State High Court, Justice M. A. Zandai High Court, Borno State, Justice Mohammed Shinkafi of Zamfara State High Court, Justice R. S. Ladoja of the Kaduna State High Court and Justice M. S. A. Mohammed of the High Court of Niger State.
โThe notification of retirements of nine Judicial Officers of the Federal and State Courts were also received and noted by the Council.โ