The National Judicial Council (NJC), has issued letters of warning to two judges over their alleged act of misconduct, while one of them was placed on ‘watch list’.

Also, the NJC recommended the appointment of six heads of court and nine judicial officers for the Federal and State High Courts, Sharia and Customary Courts of Appeal.

Director of Information of the Council, Mr Soji Oye, in a statement issued on Wednesday, disclosed that the decision was taken at the Council’s 97th meeting held on March 15 and 16, 2022, presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), who is also Chairman of the NJC,  Hon. Justice Tanko Mohammad.

The statement disclosed that the Judges affected were; Justice Muawiyah Baba Idris of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and Justice M. M. Ladan of the High Court of Kaduna State.

Justice Idris was issued a warning letter and placed on Council’s ‘Watch List’ for a period of one year while Justice M. M. Ladan was issued a letter of warning.

Justice Idris was found wanting by the NJC for signing the Writ of Possession for execution on the same day he delivered judgment in suit No. FCT/HC/CV/FT/36/19 between Sicons Nigeria Ltd V Nile Place Restaurant and Catering Services Ltd.

According to Oye, the council agreed with the findings of the committee that investigated the judge that his action was in contravention of the proviso to Order 27 Rule (16) (b) High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Civil Procedure Rules 2018 and Order 4 (1) and (2) of the Judgment Enforcement Rules 2004. 

Oye said the NJC also issued a warning letter to Justice M. M. Ladan of the High Court of Kaduna State having found merit in the petition written against him in Suit No. KDH/KAD/1321/2018 between VTLS Inc. Vs Ahmadu Bello University. 

Justice Ladan was said to have signed the Writ of Attachment while the Garnishee Order Nisi was pending. 

The Council, having considered the list of candidates presented by its Interview Committee, recommended 15 successful candidates as heads of courts and other judicial officers in Nigeria.

The Council also considered the reports of various committees and noted the notification of retirements of 23 judicial officers of the Federal and State Courts and notification of death of one State High Court judge.

Those recommended appointments

1. CHIEF JUDGE, PLATEAU STATE
i) Hon. Justice David Gwong Mann
2. CHIEF JUDGE, GOMBE STATE
i) Hon. Justice Joseph Ahmed Awak
3. GRAND KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, KADUNA STATE
i) Hon. Kadi Abdurrahman Umar Abubakar
4. GRAND KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, TARABA STATE
i) Hon. Kadi Shuaibu Dahiru Ahmad
5. PRESIDENT, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, RIVERS STATE
i) Hon. Justice Ihemnacho Wilfred Obuzor

6. PRESIDENT, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, CROSS RIVER STATE
i) Hon. Justice Sampson Mbeh Anjor
7. SIX (6) JUDGES, FEDERAL HIGH COURT
i) Bala Khalifa-Mohammed Usman
ii) Emmanuel Gakko
iii) Aminu Garba
iv) Musa Sulaiman Liman
v) Ahmad Gama Mahmud
vi) Segun-Bello Mabel Taiye
8. ONE (1) JUDGE, HIGH COURT, FCT, ABUJA
i) Joseph Adebayo Aina
9. ONE (1) KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, TARABA STATE
i) Sallau Ismaila Madugu

10. ONE (1) JUDGE, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, TARABA
i) Bulus Samuelson Nyiputen

The statement all recommended candidates are expected to be sworn in after an approval by President Muhammadu Buhari, and their respective state Governors and confirmation by the National Assembly and the respective State Houses of Assembly as the case may be.