NJC sacks two judges for misconduct

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has asked Jutice Gladys Olotu of a Federal High Court, Abuja and Justice U. A. Inyang of Abuja High Court to proceed on compulsory retirement for gross misconduct.

NJC, at the end of its meeting which held on 26th February, 2014 said Justice Olotu was recommended for compulsory retirement to President Goodluck Jonathan following findings by the Council that she delivered a judgment 18 months after the final Address by all the Counsel in the suit, contrary to the Constitutional provisions that Judgments should be delivered within a period of 90 days; statement by NJC’s spokesperson, Mr. Soji Oye said Justice Olotu admitted before a Fact Finding Committee of the Council that investigated the allegations that she forgot she had a pending Ruling to deliver in an application for Joinder and entertained a post Judgment matter in Port Harcourt, which made her functus officio.

According to the statement, Justice Inyang was recommended for compulsory retirement sequel to finding that he included in his Judgment, references to the Garnishee Proceedings, which came after the Judgment, had been delivered on 20th December, 2011.

“ That His Lordship also included the name of the Counsel to Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Chief Chukwuma Ekomaru, SAN, who came into the matter after the judgment of 20th December, 2011 was delivered;

“That the Judge recklessly signed a Writ of Execution, a day after delivering his judgment of 20th December, 2011, the same day a Notice of Appeal and Motion on Notice for Stay of Execution were filed and he continued with the Garnishee Proceedings despite application for Stay of Execution; and that before delivering his Judgment of 20th December, 2011, Justice Inyang ignored a properly filed Motion on Notice for leave to file additional witness Statement on Oath”.

The Council also issued warning letters to Justice Dalhatu Adamu, the Presiding Justice of Court of Appeal Kaduna Division, Justice A. A. Adeleye of High Court of Justice, Ekiti State and Justice D. O.

Amaechina of High Court of Justice, Anambra State, respectively.

Justice Dalhatu Adamu was warned for deliberately absenting himself from duty, which is an act of gross misconduct contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Code of Conduct of Judicial Officers.