The National Judicial Council (NJC) has issued warning letters to two Judges of the Federal and State High Courts over their misconduct in the discharge of judicial functions.
One of them, Justice Muawiyah Baba Idris of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory FCT Abuja was issued a warning letter and placed on Council’s “Watch List” for a period of one year.
He was indicted for signing the Writ of Possession for execution on the same day he delivered judgment in suit No. FCT/HC/CV/FT/36/19 between Sicons Nigeria Ltd V Nile Place Restaurant and Catering Services Ltd.
A statement by the NJC Director of Information released on Wednesday in Abuja indicated that the suit was for the recovery of demised property.
NJC agreed with the findings of the Committee that investigated the 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 Judgment Enforcement Rules 2004.
The Council also issued 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.
Justice Ladan was said to have signed the writ of Attachment while the Garnishee Order Nisi was pending.
The Council at the meeting presided by the Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, Mohammad Tanko Ibrahim considered the list of candidates presented by its Interview Committee and recommended 15 successful candidates as Heads of Courts and other Judicial Officers in Nigeria.
They are Chief Judge of Plateau State, Justice David Gwong Mann, Chief Judge of Gombe State Justice Joseph Ahmed Awak, Grand KADI of Sharia Court of Appeal in Kaduna, Kadi Abdurrahman Umar Abubakar, Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal in Taraba, Kadi Shuaibu Dahiru Ahmad and President, Customary Court of Appeal, Cross River State Justice Ihemnacho Wilfred Obuzor
Six candidates were recommended for appointment as Federal High Court Judges.
They are Bala Khalifa-Mohammed Usman, Emmanuel Gakko, Aminu Garba, Musa Sulaiman Liman, Ahmad Gama Mahmud and Segun-Bello Mabel Taiye.
The FCT High Court has one in Joseph Adebayo Aina and one Kadi for Sharia Court of Appeal, Taraba State in the person of Sallau Ismaila Madugu while the Customary Court of Appeal has a Judge in Bulus Samuelson Nyiputen.
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 statement also revealed that members 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 the death of one State High Court Judge.
