The National Judicial Council, NJC, has suspended seven senior judges arrested in October by the State Security Service for alleged corruption.
The NJC’s latest decision appeared to be a compromise reached after weeks of resisting calls from various quarters, including the Nigerian Bar Association, to suspend the affected judges or compel them to withdraw from further sittings until they were able to clear their names.
It, however, said the judges had voluntarily stepped down from court sittings.
The latest decision came after the council’s 79th meeting between Wednesday and Thursday.
“Council also decided that Judicial Officers shall not be standing trial for alleged corruption related offenses and be performing judicial functions at the same time,” the communique said. “Council, however, decided that it will ensure that Judicial Officers who are being investigated for alleged high-profile criminal offenses do not perform judicial functions until their cases are concluded.”
“The National Judicial Council, under the Chairmanship of the Hon.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed, GCON, at its 79th Meeting held on the 2nd and 3rd day of November 2016, commenced implementation of specific aspects of the National Judicial Policy which came into force in April 2016 and was launched on Monday 24th October, 2016.
“During the Meeting, Council set-up a Transparency and Anti-Corruption Policy Implementation Committee as follows:
“Hon Justice E. O. Ayoola, CON (Rtd Justice of the Supreme Court) – Chairman.
“Hon Justice Kashim Zannah, Chief Judge of Borno State – Member.
“A. B. Mahmoud, SAN, President Nigeria Bar Association – Member.
“Section 6 of the National Judicial Policy aims at putting in place multifaceted strategies and guidelines that will ensure transparency and eliminate corruption in the Judiciary.
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Tags : Breaking news, Corruption
