Three Judges Suspended by NJC for Judicial Misconduct

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By Meshach Osaro 

In an important step to preserve judicial integrity, the National Judicial Council (NJC) suspended three judges for a year without pay for a variety of judicial misconduct.

Justice  Justice Inyang, who is currently in the Court of Appeal, Uyo, after formerly serving at the Federal High Court, Uyo Division, was sanctioned for issuing an ex parte decision that permitted the sale of Udeme Esset's commercial assets.  Esset, a former Jopen Oil Filling Station director, had fallen behind on a Keystone Bank debt.  By ordering the properties to be disposed of at an interlocutory stage without consulting all parties, Justice Inyang was found to have violated Rule 3(5) of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, according to the NJC.  The procedures in Suit No. FHC/UY/CS/46/2023 included this action.

Justice Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, was put on a five-year watch list and suspended for a year.  For five years, he was also prohibited from advancing in his career.  In Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/184/2021, the NJC discovered that he rendered a decision without consulting the parties or accepting a motion to halt previous proceedings.  His actions violated the 2016 Revised Code of Conduct's Rules 3.1 and 3.3.

In Suit No. FHC/GS/CS/30/2021 (Govt. of Zamfara vs. EFCC), Justice Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Zamfara Division, was found guilty of misconduct for making an order that prevented law enforcement from carrying out their statutory duties.  In addition to breaking Rules 3(1) and 5 of the 2016 Code of Conduct, he was also criticized for disobeying the stare decisis principle.  In addition to a three-year promotion and monitoring bar, he faces a one-year unpaid suspension.

Additional Petition Rejected  A number of judges were exonerated after it was determined that the petitions against them were without merit.  Among them are Justices R. B. Haastrup of the National Industrial Court, C. N. Mbonu Nwenyi of the Anambra State High Court, and A. O. Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Lagos.  The NJC's recent steps serve as a reminder of its dedication to judicial officer accountability and judicial sanitization.

Meshach Osaro 

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