NJC ASKS BUHARI TO SACK TWO ‘CORRUPT’ JUDGES

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the dismissal of two  judges, Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court and James Agbadu-Fishim of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

NJC made the recommendation to President Muhammadu Buhari in a statement by the commission’s Director, Information, Soji Oye, Esq.

In the statement, NJC said its investigations into the allegations found the judges wanting. The commission also Rejected the voluntary retirement of a Judge, Justice Joshua E. of the Delta High Court, and ordered him to refund two (2) years’ salary and emoluments.

The statement reads: NJC recommends the dismissal of two (2) Judges; Reports one private legal practitioner to Disciplinary Committee; Rejects voluntary retirement of a Judge and orders him to refund two (2) years’ salary and emoluments; Issues letter of advice to one (1) Judge; Empanels Committees to investigate four (4) Judges of the Federal High Court.

The National Judicial Council under the Chairmanship of the Honourable Mr. Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, GCON, at its 87th Meeting which was held on 3rdOctober 2018, recommended the removal by dismissal from office, of Hon. Mr. Justice R. N. Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court and Hon. Mr. Justice James T. Agbadu-Fishim of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria. Hon. Mr. Justice R. N. Ofili-Ajumogobia was recommended to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for removal by dismissal from office pursuant to the findings by the Council on the allegations of misconduct contained in a petition to the Council by the Acting Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ibrahim Magu, alleging that: Hon. Mr. Justice R. N. Ofil-Ajumogobia is a Director/Chief Executive Officer and sole signatory to Nigel and Colive Company contrary to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Several personalities, individuals, government officials and business partners lodged funds into various accounts belonging to the Hon. Judge; and There was an ex-parte communication between the Hon. Judge and Mr. Godwin Oblah, SAN, during the pendency of his matter before the His Lordship.

The Council, however, could not consider other allegations in the petition because they are already before a court where the judge is standing trial. Council left those matters for the trial to take its legal course. Hon. Mr. Justice James T. Agbadu-Fishim of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria was also recommended for removal by dismissal from office sequel to the findings of the Council on the allegations contained in another petition by the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleging that the Hon. Judge received various sums of money from litigants and lawyers that had cases before him, and some influential Nigerians, under the false pretence that he was bereaved or that there was delay in the payment of his salary.

This is contrary to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In the interim, the Council, in exercise of its disciplinary powers under paragraph 21 (d) of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, has suspended Hon. Mr. Justices R. N. Ofili-Ajumogobia and James T. Agbadu-Fishim with immediate effect pending their removal from office by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Council rejected the letter of voluntary retirement, purported to be with effect from the 1st of October 2018, submitted to it by Hon. Mr. Justice Joshua E. Ikede of the Delta State High Court. This followed the findings on an allegation of falsification of age contained in a petition written by Zik Gbemre, National Co-ordinator of Niger Delta Peace Coalition. Council found that the Hon. Judge ought to have retired

since 1st October 2016. Consequently, it backdated his retirement to 2016 and recommended to the Government of Delta State to deduct from the retirement benefits of the judge, all salaries received by him from October, 2016 till date and remit it to NJC which pays salaries of all Judicial Officers in the Federation. Council also decided to issue a Letter of Advice to Hon. Mr. Justice K. C. Nwakpa of High Court of Abia State to guard against unwarranted utterances in matters before him.

This was as a result of a complaint to the Council by one Princewill Ukegbu. Council considered the reports of various Investigation Committees and dismissed the petitions written against Hon. Mr. Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Hon. Mr. Justice E. O. Osinuga of the High Court of Ogun State, and Hon. Mr. Justice E. O. Ononeze-Madu of the High Court of Imo State.

The petition by Wema Bank against Hon. Mr. Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court was dismissed because the allegation of misconduct was not established. The judge’s handling of the related matter did not amount to the alleged misconduct. The petition on allegation of inducement, bias and alteration of Ruling written by David Olawepo Efunwape, Esq. against Hon. Mr. Justice E. O. Osinuga of High Court, Ogun State was found to be false. Council, therefore, decided to report David Olawepo Efunwape, Esq., to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for appropriate sanctions for making false allegations against a judge. The petition written by Hon. Eugene Okechukwu Dibiagwu against Hon. Mr. Justice E. O. Ononeze Madu was dismissed by the Council for lack of merit.Council also decided to warn the Petitioner and asked him to apologise to the Hon. Judge for the false allegation of inducement. New petitions written against twenty-six (26) Judicial Officers from the Federal and State High Courts were considered by Council, after which it resolved to empanel four (4) Committees to investigate.

The remaining petitions were summarily dismissed for obvious and manifest lack of merit, being subjudice, concerning administrative matters, or that such petitions were matters for appeal. The dismissed petitions were against Hon. Mr. Justice J. O. Bada, Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Benin Division, Hon. Mr. Justice Abdul-Kafarati, Chief Judge, Federal High Court and Hon. Mr. Justices I. N. Buba, H. R. Shagari, R. M. Aikawa, O. E. Abang all of the Federal High Court; Hon. Mr. Justice Marshal Umukoro, Chief Judge, Delta State and Hon. Mr. Justice E. G. Timi also of the Delta State High Court, Hon. Mr. Justice S. U. Dikko, Chief Judge, Nasarawa State, Hon. Mr. Justice P. N. C. Umeadi, Chief Judge, Anambra State, Hon. Mr. Justices A. O. Opesanwo, A. J. Coker both of Lagos State High Court, Hon. Mr. Justice C. I. Gabriel Nwankwo, President, Customary Court of Appeal, River State, Hon. Mr. Justices C. A. Okirie and G. O. Omeji both of River State High Court, Hon. Mr. Justice Iniabasi Udobong of High Court, Akwa-Ibom State, Hon. Mr. Justice S. O. Falola of High Court, Osun State, Hon. Grand Kadi, Sokoto State, Hon. Mr. Justice I. B. Ahmed of Katsina State High Court and Hon. Mr. Justice Patricia Mahmoud formerly of the Kano State High Court before her elevation to the Court of Appeal.

REVEALED! CJN FAILED TO DECLARE DOLLAR, POUNDS ACCOUNTS – CCB INVESTIGATOR

A lawyer and investigator attached to the Code of Conduct Bureau, Usman Mohammed, says the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, failed to declare his dollar, pounds and euro accounts when he was elevated to the Supreme Court.

In his statement, which has been attached to the charge sheet, the witness said investigations began after a Non-Governmental Organisation, Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative, wrote a petition against the CJN.

The statement of the witness reads in part, “That the respondent (Onnoghen) also operates three domiciliary and two naira accounts with Standard Chartered Bank Limited with the following particulars.

“Domiciliary account number: 870001062650 bearing the name Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen.
“Domiciliary account number: 9300106268bearing the name Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen
“Domiciliary account number: 285001062679 bearing the name Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen
“Domiciliary account number: 5001062683 bearing the name Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen
“Domiciliary account number: 0100010626667 bearing the name Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen.”

The investigator said investigations revealed that since 2005 when Onnoghen was appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court, he did not declare his assets until 2016 when he was appointed as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

The statement added, “That in 2016 declarations, the five domiciliary accounts were omitted. We proceeded to request the account details from Standard Chartered Bank Limited.
“The bank undertook to provide us with the opening form and provided us with statements of accounts.
“Investigations have been concluded and the facts revealed indict the defendant and consequently the file has been forwarded to the department of legal services for further necessary action.”

The PUNCH had exclusively reported in September 2017 that the Federal Government was investigating the CJN for alleged corruption.
However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had denied the report, insisting that Onnoghen was not under probe.

FG charges CJN with non-declaration of asset

The Federal Government, through the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), has charged the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen with non-declaration of assets.
In a six-count charge filed earlier this week by officials of the CCB at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja, Onnoghen was accused of failing to declare some assets allegedly traced to him, as required by law.
CCT’s spokesman, Ibraheem Al-Hassan, who confirmed the existence of the charge, said the tribunal has scheduled January 14 for arraignment.
Al-Hassan said the fixing of the date of arraignment was informed by an application filed on January 11 this year, by the CCB, seeking that the case be set down for hearing.
He said a copy of the charge has been served on the CJN as required. He was silent on when the silent on when service was effected.
Al-Hassan said, in a statement: “The Code of Conduct Tribunal has scheduled Monday, 14th of January for the commencement of trial in the charge the against current Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justce Onnoghen Nkanu Walter Samuel for alleged non declaration of asset.
“This was consequent upon an application filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau to the CCT Chairman yesterday (January 11) for the trial to commence against the Chief Justice of Nigeria on six count charges. However, service of summons has been effected on the dependant.
“The application was filed yesterday by the operatives of CCB, dated 11th January, 2019 and signed by Musa Ibrahim Usman (Esq) and Fatima Danjuma Ali (Esq), containing six counts charges, all bordering on non-declaration of asset.
“The three-man panel, led by Justice Danladi Y. Umar, will commence the trial on Monday, 14th January, 2019 at the CCT courtroom, situated at the headquarters, along Jabi Dakibiyu, Saloman Lar way, Abuja, at about 10:00am.”

Source: Punchng.com

CHIEF JUSTICE WALTER ONNOGHEN’S PROSECUTION SHOWS NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW - PROF ITSE SAGAY

The Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), says the prosecution of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, shows that no one is above the law.

Sagay told newsmen during an interview that although the prosecution of the CJN was saddening, it showed that Nigeria was slowly becoming a nation of laws.

The senior advocate also responded to the arraignment of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN), which took place last year.

The PACAC chairman said, “It shows that in Nigeria nobody is above the law. I do not rejoice either am I pleased that such high officials are being probed or investigated but it shows that in Nigeria the law is working and that the rule of law operates and that no one is higher than the law.

“That is the good aspect of it. Otherwise, I am not happy about it but if the reason arises why they should be investigated or invited and they are invited, it shows that the Nigerian legal system is working and that the rule of law operates but if it is you or I, you know that automatically we will be indicted but when the bigger guns in the country who have all the power are also being indicted, it means it is a good sign for the rule of law in Nigeria.”

When reminded of the fact that the CJN will be arraigned before Danladi Umar of the Code of Conduct Tribunal who has also been accused of corruption, Sagay said the Federal Government had no other option.

He said, “I see a point. It is a sad reflection on the state of corruption in Nigeria but I think at the end of the day, everybody will come to justice and we will have a clean slate. This is the best we can do now.

“He (Umar) is the one on the seat, he has not been removed. So, there is no other choice as long as he is there. It is not perfect but we must not miss the essential principle of this matter and that is that in Nigeria the rule of law operates.”

OVER 150 SANS TO DEFEND CJN AT CODE OF CONDUCT TRIBUNAL

No fewer than 150 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) have volunteered to put up their appearances in defence of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen on Monday, before the Justice Danladi Yakubu led-Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

This is coming on the heels of the federal government’s resolve to arraign and prefer criminal charges against the CJN on Monday January 14, 2019 before the CCT in Abuja over alleged failure to declare his assets as required by law and for operating Bank Domiciliary Foreign Currency Accounts.

Constitutional lawyer, Sebastine Hon, SAN in a telephone chat with Daily Trust on Saturday said the number of eminent lawyers that have volunteered to defend the CJN might even be more than 150.

All efforts to get the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, SAN, to comment on this development tonight failed as he neither picks calls nor reply text messages sent to his mobile lines.

The constitutional lawyer described the six-count criminal charge against the CJN as a deliberate attempt to gag the judiciary.

In a statement on Saturday, Sebastine Hon, SAN also urged the CJN not to heed to what he termed as an “unholy call” for him to step aside.

He said: “While I know that the Chief Justice of Nigeria does not enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution, I see this move by the Federal Government as dangerously political and tendentious.

“Suddenly, we woke to see a petition leaked to the informal or social media, allegedly received by the Code of Conduct on 9th January, 2019.

“Suddenly, we are told charges have been filed against the CJN. Suddenly the Presidency is reportedly asking him to step aside! Was he interrogated or interviewed and his own reactions obtained?”
The FG among others is accusing Nigeria’s head of the judiciary of refusal to declare his assets in breach of the provision of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act.

He is also being accused of maintaining domiciliary foreign currencies account which comprised of Dollars Account, Pound Sterling Account and Euro Account which were alleged to be contrary to relevant laws, especially for public office holders.

It was also gathered that the FG has by implication ordered the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen to immediately vacate office.

Also speaking, a Lagos-based constitutional lawyer, Barrister Johnson Esezebo, said there is no sentiment in law, adding that whoever runs contrary to the law should face the music.

“If the CJN has run contrary to the law, he should be made to face the music. I want to remind us what Justice Akinola Aguda, of the blessed memory said in 1978 when handling a case in which a lawyer was found guilty.

“He said ‘because you are a lawyer, who is supposed to know better, I will give you the maximum punishment’, prescribed under this act.

“I want lawyers, and judges to know that if politicians can fail the society, military can fail the society, lawyers cannot afford to fail the society or else we are all doomed. We should not drag sentiment into law. No matter the people’s nomenclature, tribe, religion, we should be guided by the law”, the lawyer said.

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ELECTION 2019: FORMER PDP NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, ALHAJI ADAMU MU’AZU, OTHER BIGWIGS, DEFECTS TO APC

Bauchi state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has confirmed the exit of its former national chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, deputy national chairman North, Alhaji Babayo Garba Gamawa, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Others are a former secretary to the federal government, Alhaji Ahmed Yayale, and Alhaji Kaulaha Aliyu.

This was disclosed by the Bauchi PDP publicity secretary, Yayanuwa Zainabari, in an exclusive interview in Bauchi Wednesday

He described the exit of the PDP bigwigs to APC in Bauchi as shocking and a big slap to the party ahead of the 2019 polls.

“Honestly, we have confirmed the exits of former national chairman, deputy national chairman and other two. It’s a big shock to the PDP. However, the party remains strong to sweep the election owing to APC’s failures,” Zainabari said.

The PDP publicity secretary alleged that the defectors took the decision to dump the party to escape the wrath of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and apparently to pacify the ruling party.

PRESIDENT BUHARI INAUGURATES COMMITTEE FOR N30,000 MINIMUM WAGE

Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday inaugurated an advisory technical committee on the proposed N30,000 new minimum wage.

The committee headed by Bismark Rewane is to advise the federal government on new source funds as well as ways to implement the proposed new minimum wage in a sustainable manner.

The committee is expected to submit its report in one month.

Buhari while setting up the committee said he was committed to a review of the national minimum wage.

Other terms of reference of the committee include proposing a work plan and modalities for implementation.

Details later....

WHY I CAN’T PAY N30, 000 MINIMUM WAGE – GOV. ORTOM

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state.

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue said if he had the capacity, he would pay the state workers above N30,000 as minimum wage.

Mr Ortom stated this on Tuesday in Makurdi while addressing members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that members of the union embarked on a peaceful protest to express their grievances over the delay in the implementation of the new national minimum wage of N30,000.

The governor, who sympathised with the workers, said the state cannot afford to pay the new wage.

He, however, stated that the present N18,000 minimum wage was no longer enough due to the economic situation.

“If I have the capacity, I will not hesitate to implement the new minimum wage even above N30,000,” he said.

He disclosed that governors had appealed to the federal government to review the revenue sharing formula to enable them pay the proposed national minimum wage.

”I have prioritised payment of workers’ salaries and this is exactly what my administration is doing,” he said.

Also speaking, the NLC state chairman, Godwin Anya, called on the governor to consider the workers’ plight and stand on their side by accepting to pay the proposed minimum wage.

The national president of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, who was represented by Success Leke, national auditor of the union, advised Mr Ortom to prevail on his colleagues to implement the new minimum wage.

(NAN)

SEN. SHEHU SANI ‏JOINED ORGANIZED LABOUR TO PROTEST OVER N30,000 MINIMUM WAGE BILL TRANSMISSION TO NASS, ON TUESDAY 8 JANUARY (PHOTOS)

Shehu Sani, the senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, on Tuesday, joined the organised Labour to protest over the N30,000 minimum wage bill transmission to the National Assembly for passage into law.