ZAMFARA: APGA gov candidate accuses CJN, NJC of shielding a ‘corrupt judge’

All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in Zamfara State in the recently concluded general elections, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, has made unpleasant allegations against the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mohammed Tanko.

Shinkafi in a letter to the Acting CJN, said both the CJN and the NJC have been shielding a judge that allegedly engaged in acts of judicial misconduct.

Giving details to his claims, the APGA governorship candidate said the CJN and the NJC refused to act on a petition he lodged against a Zamfara State High Court Judge, who according to him was involved in judicial misconduct by assuming jurisdiction over a political case marked ZMS/GS/52/2018, which pertained to the March 9 governorship election.

Shinkafi said though his petition was received by the office of the Acting CJN on February 26, he said the NJC abandoned its investigation midway and referred the case back to the Chief Judge of Zamfara State for settlement.

According to him, the acting CJN communicated to him via a letter signed by secretary of the NJC, Mr. Gambo Saleh that the matter has been returned to Zamfara State Chief Judge.

Not happy with the action NJC took, Shinkafi told the acting CJN in a fresh petition that he was dismayed that the decision to return the matter to Zamfara Chief Judge was made to sweep issues he raised before the legal body under the carpet.

READ ALSO: CONFUSION: How judicial pronouncements have created more questions than answers in political disputes

“With utmost respect to Your Lordship, my complaint against Justice Bello Shinkafi was not on administrative grounds that the Chief Judge may have the leverage of interfering, the complaint was against a judicial officer who did not only misuse his power as a judge but drastically somersaulted and made fun of the whole judicial process and adjudicative procedures,” Shinkafi said in his fresh letter to the acting CJN.

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