NJC warns two Judges, places one on ‘watch list’, promotes 15

The National Judicial Council under the Chairmanship of Hon. Dr. Justice I. T. Muhammad, has issued warning letters to two Judicial Officers, placing one of the judges on ‘Watch List’ over irregular judgements.

The NJC also recommended the appointment of six Heads of Court and nine Judicial Officers for the Federal and State High Courts, Sharia Court, and Customary Court of Appeal.

The Director of Information, Soji Oye, Esq., in a statement on Wednesday indicated that the NJC under the Chairmanship of Justice I. T. Muhammad, at its 97th Meeting on 15 and 16 March 2022 resolved to issue warning letters to two Judicial Officers of the Federal and State High Court.

Hon. Justice Muawiyah Baba Idris of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, was issued a warning letter and placed on Council’s “Watch List” for a period of one year for signing the Writ of Possession for execution on the same day he delivered judgement in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/FT/36/19 between Sicons Nigeria Ltd V Nile Place Restaurant and Catering Services Ltd. The Suit was for recovery of demised property.

Council agreed with the findings of the Committee that investigated the Hon. Judge that his action was in contravention of Proviso to Order 27 Rule (16) (b) High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Civil Procedure Rules 2018 and Order 4 (1) and (2) of the Judgement Enforcement Rules 2004.

The Council also resolved to issue a warning letter to Justice M. M. Ladan of the High Court of Kaduna State having found merit in the petition written against him in Suit No. KDH/KAD/1321/2018 between VTLS Inc. Vs Ahmadu Bello University.

He signed the Writ of Attachment while the Garnishee Order Nisi was pending.

Council at the meeting considered the list of candidates presented by its Interview Committee and at the end of deliberation, Council recommended the under-listed names of 15 successful candidates as Heads of Courts and other Judicial Officers in Nigeria.

They are as follows:

1. CHIEF JUDGE, PLATEAU STATE
i) Hon. Justice David Gwong Mann

2. CHIEF JUDGE, GOMBE STATE
i) Hon. Justice Joseph Ahmed Awak

3. GRAND KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, KADUNA STATE
i) Hon. Kadi Abdurrahman Umar Abubakar

4. GRAND KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, TARABA STATE
i) Hon. Kadi Shuaibu Dahiru Ahmad

5. PRESIDENT, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, RIVERS STATE
i) Hon. Justice Ihemnacho Wilfred Obuzor

6. PRESIDENT, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, CROSS RIVER STATE
i) Hon. Justice Sampson Mbeh Anjor

7. SIX (6) JUDGES, FEDERAL HIGH COURT
i) Bala Khalifa-Mohammed Usman
ii) Emmanuel Gakko
iii) Aminu Garba
iv) Musa Sulaiman Liman
v) Ahmad Gama Mahmud
vi) Segun-Bello Mabel Taiye

8. ONE (1) JUDGE, HIGH COURT, FCT, ABUJA
i) Joseph Adebayo Aina

9. ONE (1) KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, TARABA STATE
i) Sallau Ismaila Madugu

10. ONE (1) JUDGE, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, TARABA
i) Bulus Samuelson Nyiputen

Soji Oye, said that all recommended candidates are expected to be sworn-in after approval by President Muhammadu Buhari, and their respective State Governors and confirmation by the National Assembly and the respective State House of Assemblies, as the case may be.
The NJC also considered the reports of various Committees and noted the notification of retirements of 23 Judicial Officers of the Federal and State Courts and notification of death of one State High Court Judge.