Judges' Arrest NJC
Judges' Arrest NJC suspends Justice Ademola, 6 others over alleged corruption
The NJC says judges accused of high-profile corruption cannot be performing judicial functions at the same time.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has ordered all judges accused of corruption to step down until the investigation is over.
This was contained in a statement made available to Pulse by NJC's spokesman, Soji Eyo (Esq) at the end of its 79th Council meeting on Thursday, November 3, 2016, in Abuja.
Headed by Justice E. O. Ayoola,
a retired Supreme Court Judge, the transparency and anti-corruption
policy implementation committee stated that the move was to ensure
transparency and eliminate corruption in the judiciary.
The statement reads:
"Council
has decided that judicial officers shall not be standing trial for
alleged corruption and be performing judicial functions at the same
time.
"Council, however, decided
that it would ensure that judicial officers who are been investigated
alleged high-profile criminal offences do not perform judicial functions
until their cases are concluded.
"Section
6 of the National Judicial Council policy aims at putting in place
multifaceted strategies and guidelines that would ensure transparency
and eliminate corruption in the judiciary."
The Department of State Services (DSS) had raided homes of seven judges on October 7 and 8 on allegations of corruption, including bribery and perversion of justice.
The Judges are: Inyang Okoro (Supreme Court), Sylvester Ngwuta (Supreme Court), Adeniyi Ademola (Federal High Court, Abuja), Kabir Auta (Kano High Court), Mu’azu Pindiga (Gombe High Court), Mohammed Tsamiya (Court of Appeal, Ilorin), Justice I. A. Umezulike (Chief Judge of Enugu State).
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