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NJC clears Abang of any wrong doing in PDP, Abia judgments, says petitions lack merit

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NJC clears Abang of any wrong doing in PDP, Abia judgments, say petitions lack merit

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has described four petitions filed against Justice Okon Abang of Abuja Federal High Court over alleged acts of judicial misconduct as lacking merits.

Four separate petitions were sent to the NJC asking it to investigate Justice Abang over judgments he delivered against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his June 27 verdict which sacked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu from office over alleged tax breaches.

Also, Senator Ahmed Markarfi-led faction of the PDP dragged the judge before the NJC over his judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to only recognise the PDP faction led by Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff.

However, the NJC said the petitioners were unable to validate their claims against Justice Abang.
NJC decision was contained in a letter with Ref no. NJC/ F.3/FHC.44/V/131, which it directed to the first petitioner, ‎Chief Oyedele M. Ibini , another letter with Ref. No. NJC/F.3/FHC.44/v/129, to Charles Esonu.
Others were letters to Emeka Eze and Chief Henry Balogun with Ref. Nos.NJC/F.3/FHC.44/V/125 and NJC/F.3/FHC.44/v/127, correspondingly.

The four letters were all dated October 18, 2016. Specifically, the document disclosed that Chief Balogun had accused Justice Abang of abusing judicial powers and has told the NJC that Abang meted out injustice to the PDP and governor Ikpeazu in the judgment he delivered in suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/71/2016 between Dr. Samson Okechukwu Ogah vs PDP.

But NJC, clearing Abang of involving in any misconduct, said it had after its deliberations, discovered no proof of any misconduct against Justice Abang. Likewise, the council said that the petition written to it by Secretary of the PDP in Ondo State, Chief Ayodele Ibini, accusing Justice Abang of wrong doing in suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/439/2016, in the judgement he delivered recognising the Sheriff faction in Edo and Ondo states, lacked merit.

Read also: Justice Ngwuta charged for illegal possession of $319,000, multiple passports, others

It also held that Justice Abang did no wrong in the petition written by Chief Esonu of the PDP, who claimed that the order that directed Ikpeazu to instantaneously vacate the governorship seat was reckless.

It held that the petition by Mr. Eze, wherein he argued that Justice Abang should not have issued the enrol order on suit number FHA/ABJ/CS/71/2016 to INEC immediately the Abia judgement was delivered, lacked merit.
NJC argued that Justice Abang was able to prove that the judgment complained of, was released to the parties after 4 days of its delivery.
By Ebere Ndukwu …

 

 

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