***Recommends Compulsory Retirement for Two Heads of Court Over Misconduct

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended two High Court judges, Justice G. C. Aguma of Rivers State and Justice A. O. Nwabunike of Anambra State, from performing judicial functions for one year without pay, following investigations over misconduct.
Both judges will also be placed on a two-year watch list after the suspension period.

This decision was reached at the NJC’s 107th meeting, presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on November 13 and 14, 2024. Alongside these suspensions, the NJC sanctioned three other judicial officers and recommended the compulsory retirement of the Chief Judge of Imo State, Hon. Justice T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka, and the Grand Kadi of Yobe State, Hon. Kadi Babagana Mahdi, over age falsification.

According to the NJC, Justice Aguma aided a litigant inappropriately by transferring a garnishee proceeding from Abuja to Rivers State for enforcement. Similarly, Justice Nwabunike was found to have breached judicial conduct rules by issuing ex parte orders without proper procedures.

The NJC’s report indicated that Justice Chikeka and Grand Kadi Mahdi presented multiple birth dates to extend their service beyond the legal retirement age. The council has ordered both judges to refund all excess salaries received after their actual retirement dates.

The NJC also issued warnings to two other judges, Justice I. A. Jamil and Chief Judge J. J. Majebi of Kogi State, regarding their handling of sensitive cases. Petitions against several other judges were dismissed for lack of merit.

In addition, the council recommended the appointment of 36 judicial officers across several states and pledged to report legal practitioners filing unfounded petitions against judges to disciplinary committees for action. The appointed judges are expected to be sworn in by their respective state governors.

In response to public outcry over the arrest and detention of minors involved in the recent #EndBadGovernance protests, President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate release of all detained children.
The directive, announced on Monday by Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, follows the arraignment of 72 minors on charges of treason related to the protests, which took place across various states in August.

The protests, held in states including Kaduna, Abuja, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano, saw widespread demonstrations against high living costs and food scarcity.
The arrest of minors sparked widespread condemnation, as many appeared visibly malnourished and even collapsed during their appearance at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Judge Obiora Egwuatu subsequently granted bail to the minors, setting it at N10 million for each of the defendants.

President Tinubu has also mandated the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to oversee the welfare and reintegration of the minors with their families.
The President’s orders include the establishment of a committee, led by the humanitarian affairs ministry, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrests, detention conditions, and eventual release of the minors.

The public backlash intensified last Friday after reports of the prolonged detention of the minors emerged, prompting the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to intervene. F
agbemi immediately instructed the police to transfer the case file to his office and assigned the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation for further review.

This decisive action by President Tinubu has been widely seen as a move to address concerns around justice, due process, and the protection of children’s rights in the face of Nigeria’s ongoing socio-economic challenges.

In a strong plea for judicial integrity, the Coalition of Civil Society for Transparency in Governance has called for immediate intervention to prevent the Benue State Judicial Service Commission (BSJSC) from embarking on a proposed strike action.
The coalition claimed that the strike is being manipulated by political figures pursuing personal interests, potentially undermining the delivery of justice in the state.
Executive Director of the coalition, Hajia Jaiyeola Mohammed, submitted a petition to the Chief Justice of Benue State and the Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) where she raised alarms about the growing backlog of civil and criminal cases in the courts, stressing that a strike would only exacerbate existing delays. “Justice delayed is justice denied,” she asserted, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
The coalition’s concerns stem from a meeting held on October 21, 2024, where it was revealed that certain politicians are exerting undue pressure on the BSJSC. This interference, they argue, threatens the judiciary’s independence, which is essential for upholding justice for all citizens.
“Holding the entire state to ransom for the interests of a few is unacceptable,” Hajia Mohammed stated. She urged the judiciary to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter, warning that a strike could lead to significant injustice for those awaiting legal resolutions.
The coalition’s petition underscored the crucial role of the judiciary in maintaining order and fairness, especially during politically charged times. With the potential strike looming, concerns are mounting over access to justice in the region, affecting not just the legal system but also public confidence in governance.
As citizens and legal practitioners await a response, the coalition remains vigilant, advocating for a judiciary free from external influences and dedicated to its primary mission of serving the public interest. The implications of this situation are profound, emphasizing the need for an independent judiciary as the backbone of democracy in Nigeria.