Presidency continues attack on Judiciary over recalled judges, says NJC lied

The presidency, still unsatisfied with the conduct of the judiciary over recall of some suspected corrupt judges has again lashed out at the National Judicial Commission (NJC).

Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution, Mr. Okoi Obono-Obla, in a statement on Monday said the Commission lied when it said the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami failed to show up at the Federal Capital Territory High Court for settlement of records of appeal concerning Justice Adeniyi Ademola.

Obono-Obla, who is attached to the AGF’s office, challenged the NJC to show evidence that they were served with the summons for the settlement, even as he claimed that the commission was muddling up the law in efforts to defend its actions.

He said: “I wish to debunk some of the assertions contained in the statement issued by Soji Oye, Director of Information, National Judicial Council, NJC, which was widely reported in the media on Monday, June 12, 2017.

“One of such false assertions by Soji Oye is the claim ‘that the Office of Attorney General of the Federation had on two occasions, April 18, 2017 and April 21, 2017, shunned invitations by the Federal Capital Territory High Court for settlement of records of appeal, which if it had done would have elevated the notices of appeal to proper appeal.

Read also: #QUITNOTICE: MASSOB’s Uwazurike, Al-Mustapha meet, call for peace

“Undoubtedly, the statement of Soji Oye is a deliberate misrepresentation of the law and facts. On the contrary, the FCT High Court registry by a notice dated June 6, 2017 signed by one Paul A. Edili, Esquire (Head of Appeal) invited both parties to the appeal to attend Court on the 14 June, 2017 for the purpose reconciliation of records of appeal.

“It goes without saying that the assertion of Soji Oye that the Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation had on two occasions viz, April 18, 2017 and April 21 2017, respectively shunned the invitation of the FCT High Court registry is not correct.

“I challenged Soji Oye to furnish us with proof of service of these notice which the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation shunned.

“It is obvious that Soji Oye in his haste to defend the indefensible muddled up the law concerning the role of an Appellant and the registry of the Court where an appeal is emanating from.”

It would be recalled that the NJC in a statement by Mr Oye accused the presidency of hypocrisy.
It said it was disappointed that the Presidency turned around to accuse NJC of shielding corrupt Judges, when those that were found culpable and recommended for dismissal since President Buhari’s administration came on board, have not been removed till date.

 

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Click here to download the Ripples Nigeria App for latest updates

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