The National Judicial Council, NJC, has accused the Presidency of telling lies over the recall of six judges who were suspended by the Council based on allegations of corruption levelled against them.
It said since there were no cases against them pending in any court, there was no reason to keep them perpetually suspended.

In its reaction, the presidency had lambasted NJC for reinstating suspended judges under probe, accusing the body of condoning corruption.
Special Adviser to the President on Prosecutions, Okoi Obono-Obla, declared that the council was working against government and that the presidency was disappointed.

He lamented the hasty reinstatement and stated that the NJC was fully aware of the plan of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to arraign the judges in question.

Obono-Obla specifically said one of the judges, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, had a case against him in court.
Firing back in a statement on Saturday, NJC said the case against Ademola was filed two days after the suspension of the judges was lifted.

Spokesperson of the NJC, Soji Oye, said the first appeal filed against the ruling dismissing the allegations against Ademola was deemed over because the Presidency did not show up to follow the due process for it to be listed for hearing.

The full statement below…
“The attention of the National Judicial Council has been drawn to reactions of some members of public, particularly Legal Practitioners, Jurists, Academics and Public Office holders on the recall of the Judicial Officers that had been earlier directed to recuse themselves from performing Judicial duties pending the conclusion of investigation or determination of the cases filed against them.

Council is particularly concerned about the Press statement issued by Okoi Obono-Obla, Esq, Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution on 8th June, 2017; that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation filed a Notice of Appeal against the Ruling of Hon. Justice Jude Okeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for discharging and acquitting Hon. Justice A. F. A. Ademola and 2 ORS on 7th April, 2017.

Contrary to the above statement, the Registry of the High Court of the FCT, Abuja, informed the Department of Information of the National Judicial Council that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation filed two Notices of Appeal in the Court; the first one on 7th April, 2017, against Hon Justice A. F. A. Ademola, his wife, Olabowale Ademola and Joe Agi, SAN. The second one was filed on 6th of June, 2017, two days after the Press Release was issued by the National Judicial Council, with additional grounds of appeal against only Hon. Justice A.F.A. Ademola.

It is on record that when the Parties were invited by High Court of the FCT for settlement of records to be transmitted to the Court of Appeal on 18th April, 2017, the Appellant failed to turn up. The Registrar of the Court further adjourned the settlement of records to 21st April, 2017, and invited all the Parties, but the Appellant again did not come to Court.

The total number of 45 days allowed for compilation of record in all circumstances expired on 7th May, 2017, for the Registrar of the Lower Court and 22nd May, 2017, for the Appellant.
Council noted that the Office of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice only filed additional grounds of appeal in the Court on Tuesday 6th June, 2017, three days after the Press Release by the Council that the Judicial Officers have been directed to resume their Judicial duties. It was on 6th June, 2017, that letters were again issued by the Registrar to the Parties for settlement of records against 14th June, 2017.

For avoidance of doubt, by the Rules of the Court of Appeal, there cannot be a proper appeal before the Court until Parties have agreed and settled records before the Lower Court and transmit copies of such records to the Court of Appeal before an appeal number is given. It is only after an appeal number is given that an appeal is said to be entered in the Court of Appeal.
The Council confirmed from Registry of the Court of Appeal that there is no such Appeal till date. The only matter that is pending is a Motion with Number CA/A/371M/CR/2019 filed by Joe Odey Agi, SAN, against the Federal Republic of Nigeria seeking the dismissal of Appellant/Respondent appeal between the Federal Government of Nigeria Vs Joe Odey Agi for failure to transmit the Records from the Lower Court within 45 days.

Council is aware that at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, the Federal Government filed Suits against Hon. Justices N. S. Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court and A. F. A. Ademola of the Federal High Court on 8th February, 2017.
However, the Federal Ministry of Justice later withdrew the files pertaining the Suits against Hon. Justices Inyang Okoro and A. F. A. Ademola, with the intention of filing additional evidence against them.
In the case of Hon. Justice Ngwuta, he has since been arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for non-declaration of his assets.
In effect, there is currently no Suit filed against Hon. Justices Inyang Okoro and A. F. A. Ademola J. at the Tribunal.
Contrary to the allegations by Professor Itse Sagay, SAN, Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, that Judiciary took a hasty decision to recall the Judges, and that it is not on board with anti-graft war of the Federal Government, the number of Judicial Officers that have been removed from office for misconduct particularly for corrupt practices since President Buhari administration came on board, that has been made public by National Judicial Council in October and November, 2016, speaks for itself in that vein.

Some of the Judicial Officers were removed from office by dismissal or compulsory retirement by the President or Governors on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council. While a number of the Judicial Officers were reprimanded by Council in the exercise of its Constitutional powers to exercise disciplinary control over Judges of Superior Courts of record in the Federation.

Council is constrained to say that some of the Judicial Officers that have been recommended for dismissal or compulsory retirement from Office by the presidency or Governors, have not to date been removed from Office. But for suspension of the affected Judicial Officers from Office by National Judicial Council, they would have to date been still performing their Judicial duties.

And these are Officers that have been found culpable of gross misconduct by National Judicial Council after due process and diligent fact finding investigation by Council based on the Rule of Law enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, National Judicial Council Judicial Discipline Regulations and Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The National Judicial Council will soon issue an advertorial on the foregoing and list out the number of Judicial Officers that have since April, 2000 when it held its inaugural Meeting to date, been dismissed or compulsorily retired by the President or Governors for gross misconduct or corrupt practices, on its recommendation; and also reprimanded by council by suspension or warning/caution.

Council is not oblivious of the fact that some major Stakeholders in the Judiciary and Justice Delivery Sector in conjunction with the Nigerian Bar Association, met with the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Anti-Graft and Security Agencies before the Judicial Officers were recalled, to discuss the subject matter and in particular the fate of the Judicial Officers that have not been charged and arraigned. When no progress was made, the National Judicial Council, which is the only Constitutional Institution empowered to exercise disciplinary control over Judicial Officers for misconduct, decided to recall the Judicial Officers.

It is to be stressed that our criminal justice is also predicated on accusatorial system and NOT inquisitorial. Thus, every accused person is presumed to be innocent until his guilt is proved beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution.

On the foregoing, Council is compelled to inform the public that the decision it took to direct the affected Justices/Judges to recuse themselves from performing their judicial duties, was borne out of respect for the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice; and in order to maintain the integrity and sanctity of the Judiciary and sustain public confidence. However, the recent decision of the Council to recall the Judicial Officers was based on the Principles of Rule of Law and fairness.

Council reiterates that it shall continue to support the President Buhari Administration posture in its fight against corruption in all its ramifications in the Federation; and in cleansing the Judiciary of corrupt Judiciary Officers, under the purview of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the principles of the Rule of Law enshrined therein.”

http://dailypost.ng/2017/06/11/recall-suspended-judges-njc-fires-back-says-presidency-lied-nigerians/?utm_source=dlvr.it_dp1&utm_medium=twitte

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Na today... .our president came into power with lies, and he must finish up with lies. Una just dey wake now abi?

Pls I need unilorin entrance exams past questions for masters student(Agric Economics)...would really appreciate if anyone can help me out.

Send to: donmorris666@gmail.com


Thank you and God bless you!

Behold the Buhari led APC federal government has won another award!

The lying lying lying liars


Lalasticlala

HungerBAD:
Following

Am sure this moniker is a robot... Programed to type trash

Hunger Is Truly Bad

A Party Connected with lies..

Liar Mohammed and Buhari are madd

By 2019 when these devils come to campaign, when they say.... "Good afternoon Nigerians"..... One should check if truly it is afternoon


I spite on all APC members, families, supporters and crannies

Where is Lalasticlala self

God punish APC government together with their lies.Ndi ara

May it never be well with Buhari et al

No party, dead or alive or even yet to be formed could be more useless like APC

Lalasticlala are you saying this news does not worth front page?

Seun

V

No be APC?

I'm purposely here to read comments... I need a popcorn

Nigeria matter no go kee me. Abeg make i go fvck toto jare

We are not shocked...

Isn't it obvious that all the Presidency has ever done is lie to us from day 1.

a govt of LAIs

Una surprise?

Iloveafrica:


Dear nairalanders please I want you to advise me.

I had a fracture on my left hand and I'm already receiving treatment [since 4 days ago]
My problem is that I don't like being alone.
What do you think I can be doing at home to keep myself busy so as to avoid over thinking and boredom?

...

is being here on Nairaland not enough for you?

Iloveafrica:


Dear nairalanders please I want you to advise me.

I had a fracture on my left hand and I'm already receiving treatment [since 4 days ago]
My problem is that I don't like being alone.
What do you think I can be doing at home to keep myself busy so as to avoid over thinking and boredom?

..

Blow.Job.... you don't need both hands... can we have peace on NL naw?

Presidency?
Lawal or Dog-ara?

I still wonder why Amaechi is still roaming freely.

When you have an illiterate and slow president, everyone around him can not act rightly and promptly.

What baffles me in all of these is how some so called professors of law like Akin Oyebode were defending the ineptitude of government executives on this matter. Anyway sha, he for instance has always run his mouth in propagation of APC's lies, I guess he's doing that for his colleague (Osinbajo ) and not for the Dullard of Daura.

I wish the lying professor of law (Oyebode) was anywhere close to me at the moment so I can give him a nasty knock on his head. I still picture the lying prof selling a bad market to Nigerian zombies on Channels TV during and after the last election while pretending to be an objective analyst that he's not.

There are so many things going on right now and Nigerians should be ready...

This advise goes to mostly the Yoruba and Hausas.. Please don't let tribalism cloud your mind as it did last time... Jonathan lost mainly because he was not part of these two tribes and because he favoured the Igbos who heavily voted for him..

I don't support a bad president, but it is time for us to do the right thing and not choose a man based on tribalism but a man that will deliver what is right...

It is a time we stop allowing our fathers to plant evil seeds in our minds by making us believe that any other tribe in the presidency that is not affiliated to ours will want to rule over us....

2019 is coming, let us do the right thing...

I remain your favorite health blogger, Paul Samuel FitnessDoctor

Truth...99 and half per cent of those promises APC made were empty. in Falz voice *It's a planned deal*

With high level of corruption things were cheap and easy for me as a student... now with change I can't even afford a pent of garri which is a student life saving machine.....I won't curse APC but if what they are doing is good then may there children and those who support it go through same fate.amen