Alleged Misconduct: NJC Probes 15 High Court Judges

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has set up 15 high powered probe panels to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against 15 Judges of the Federal and State High Courts.

The probe panels are to determine the culpability of the Judges in the various petitions filed against them by individuals and corporate bodies.

NJC’s Director of Information, Mr Soji Oye, in a statement yesterday, disclosed that the decision to investigate the alleged erring Judges was taken at the Council’s 99th meeting presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

This followed the submission of reports of the Preliminary Complaint Assessment Committees which considered 66 petitions forwarded to them by the NJC from all over the federation.

The statement however did not disclose the names of judges to be probed, their divisions and specific nature of their alleged offences.

It, however, revealed that the council dismissed petitions against 51 judicial officers of the Federal and State High Courts for either lack of merit, being subjudice, or being matters for appeal or that the concerned Judge had retired from service.

The statement explained that the council was formally presented with the reviewed Judicial Information Technology Policy which established the general requirements and responsibilities for the Nigerian Judiciary systems and information.

“The policy provides for guidance of courts and judicial bodies in protecting confidentiality, integrity and availability (CIA) of judiciary function and process.

“It also stipulates guidance for acceptable use of system, services and technologies, as well as provisions for secure storage of judicial data and recovery processes in the event of emergencies or distress. 

“Similarly, it further provides guidelines and incident management policies including Data Centre deployment and use policies.

“The Scope is intended for all courts and judicial bodies in Nigeria including staff of the Nigerian judiciary, employed or contracted to any judicial body handling information that is generated, received, stored, transmitted, or printed. 

“It encompasses all personal or Judiciary identifiable data held in their courts and judicial bodies’ systems and processes, including supporting mechanisms and technologies for managing such data at rest or in transit.

“All staff are expected to comply with the policy and associated standard protocols and procedures that have been put in place to support the document.

“The policy is applicable to all courts units, departments of all judicial bodies in the Nigerian Judiciary.

“Council noted appointments of judicial officers recommended for appointment at the last meeting who have been sworn–in as Judges of Federal and State High Courts.

“Reports from standing and ad-hoc Committees of the council were also presented at the meeting, as well as notifications of retirement of 16 judges and notification of death of a Judge from the Federal and State High Courts,” the statement further said.