NJC continues clean-up, recommends sack of 2 more judges

Two judges, Ugbo Ononogbo and Nasir Gummi, of the Abia State and Zamfara State High courts in that order, have been recommended for compulsory retirement by the National Judicial Council (NJC) over allegations of corruption.

NJC’s decision to dismiss them was contained in a statement signed by its director of communication, Soji Oye.

According to the council, its recommendation for the dismissal of the judges became necessary after they were indicted in its investigation into allegations leveled against both of them.

The statement read, “The National Judicial Council under the Chairmanship of the Hon. Acting Chief Justice Walter S. N. Onnoghen, CFR, at its 80th Meeting which was held on 14th and 15th December, 2016 recommended the dismissal of Hon. Justice Ugbo Ononogbo of the Abia State High Court of Justice and the compulsory retirement from office of Hon. Justice Nasir Gummi of Zamfara State High Court of Justice with immediate effect.

Read also: SGF in more trouble with Senate over remarks against call for his removal

“Hon. Justice Ugbo Ononogbo, Abia State High Court, was recommended for dismissal to the Governor of Abia State, Pursuant to the findings by the Council on the following allegations inter-alia contained in a petition written against His Lordship by Mr. Urum Udensi Ifegwu.

“Hon. Justice Umar Nasir Gunmi was recommended for compulsory retirement from office to His Excellency, Hon. (Dr) Abdul Aziz Yari Abubakar, governor of Zamfara State sequel to the findings of Council following allegations against His Lordship.”

Recall that in October, the NJC had sent three judges; Justice Mohammed Tsamiya from the Ilorin Division of the Court of Appeal; Chief Judge (CJ) of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike and Justice Kabiru Auta from Kano State. on compulsory retirement over allegations of misconduct and corruption.

President Muhammadu Buhari had early this year unequivocally fingered the judiciary as his administration’s headache in the ongoing
anti-corruption fight.

His government now appears to be beaming more searchlight on the judiciary. Only recently also, the Department of State Security (DSS) raided the homes of seven senior judges over allegations of corruption.
Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, who was among the seven judges is undergoing trial.

The case of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, who is also under going trial all point to the present administration’s effotrs to rid the judiciary of corruption.

 

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now