NJC Sacks Suspended Abia Chief Judge Uzokwe, One Other

NJC sacks suspended Abia Chief Judge Uzokwe, one other

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State the compulsory retirement of the state’s suspended Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Uzokwe and Justice Obisike Oji, who was picked in her place.

This formed part of the decisions taken at the NJC’s 85th meeting held on March 14.

The NJC had earlier suspended Justice Uzokwe, and issued a query to Justice Oji for allowing himself to be sworn-in as Acting Chief Judge when the Abia State House of Assembly purportedly sacked Justice Uzokwe.

According to the NJC, Justices Uzokwe and Oji were found guilty of misconduct.

NJC’s Director, Information, Soji Oye, said in a statement that the council also set up committees to Supreme Court Justice, 2 state Chief Judges.

The statement was silent on the identity of the judicial officers involved.

The NJC issued warning to Justice S. E. Aladetoyinbo (of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Justice Olusola Ajibike Williams of the Lagos State High Court.

It referred a petition against Justice Mwada Balami of the FCT High Court to the Police to investigate the allegation of N5, 000,000 (Five Million Naira) bribe to the Judge for granting bail to an accused person.

The NJC dismissed petitions against 31 judges for being without substance and approved the appointment of 60 judges for 24 states.