This Nonsense Must Stop: CJN ‘Queries’ Three Judges Over Conflicting Court Orders

• Tanko Muhammad has grilled the chief judges of six states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
• According to reports, this is over the conflicting court orders that recently emanated from their courts
• Muhammad consequently threatened that three of the judges who issued the controversial order would be made scapegoats

In a move aimed at sanitising the judiciary, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ibrahim Muhammad, has asked three judges to appear before the National Judicial Council (NJC) over their recent court pronouncements, Premium Times reports.

He asked them to show cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against them for granting the conflicting ex parte orders.

The judges had issued conflicting orders on issues bordering on the leadership crisis affecting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and matters relating to candidates for the Anambra governorship election.

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Those summoned by the CJN are the chief judges of Rivers, Kebbi, Cross River, Anambra, Jigawa, FCT and Imo states.

This was disclosed by Soji Oye, NJC director of information. According to him, the meeting commenced at 11am on Monday, September 6, and lasted till 5:30pm, Daily Trust added.

He said:

“Each of the CJs was separately quizzed personally by the CJN for over an hour, before later reading a riot act in a joint session with all of them.

“Your job as heads of court is a sacred one, and it, therefore, includes you vicariously taking the sins of others. There must be an end to this nonsense. You shall henceforth take absolute charge in assigning cases or matters, especially political personally. We shall make example with these three Judges and never shall we condone such act."

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Judge who jailed former Nigerian governors sworn-in as appeal court justice

Ibrahim Muhammad, on Monday, June 28, swore in Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the high court of the Federal Capital Territory to the office of Justice of the Court of Appeal.

Justice Banjoko sentenced former Taraba state governor, Jolly Nyame, to 14 years on corruption charges without an option of a fine.

She also convicted Joshua Dariye, the former governor of Plateau state, and sentenced him to 14 years in prison.

Drama as Christian judge takes oath in Allah’s name

Also, there was a mild drama at the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday, June 28, while the CJN was swearing in new judges.

One of the new appointees, Justice Olasunbo Goodluck, who happens to be a Christian, took her oath in the name of Allah but was immediately corrected by the CJN.

Source: Legit.ng