Corruption: NJC convenes emergency meeting to determine fate of arrested Judges

Corruption: NJC convenes emergency meeting
to determine fate of arrested Judges

ABUJA – The National Judicial Council, NJC,
has convened an emergency meeting to
determine the fate of judges currently under
investigation over their alleged complicity in
acts of corruption.
The meeting which will be presided by the
Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud
Mohammed, will hold between November 2
and 3 at the NJC Secretariat situated inside
the Supreme Court complex in Abuja.
Sunday Vanguard learnt that among issues to
be considered at the meeting include request
by some of the Judges whose homes were
raided between October 7 and 8, for leave of
the Council to institute legal action against the
Department of State Service, DSS.
A source at the NJC, who pleaded anonymity,
equally disclosed that the meeting would
afford the legal body the opportunity to further
deliberate on whether or not the embattled
Judges should temporarily step down from
the Bench as requested by the Nigerian Bar
Association, NBA.
“Besides, the Council will also consider at the
meeting, request by a non governmental
organisation, Citizens Advocacy for Social and
Economic Rights, CASER, for live broadcast of
sensitive court cases”, the source added.
The group had in a letter it forwarded to the
CJN on February 26, sought the council’s
approval for court proceedings to be relayed
live to Nigerians.
It argued that such measure would enhance
greater transparency in the justice delivery
system in Nigeria, saying that request was
necessitated by “rising public consciousness
of the role of the courts in ensuring justice,
public order and stability of Nigeria.”
As a follow up, the group also wrote the CJN
on October 20, insisting that the recent
clampdown on judges over allegations of
corruption further underscored the importance
and urgency of its request.
“CASER is convinced that live media
broadcast of court proceedings will debunk
corruption and help in sustaining the integrity
of the judiciary in Nigeria.
“Live broadcast of court proceedings in
Nigeria has its foundation in the constitutional
provision of Section 36 (3) and (4)”, the group
insisted.