The Federal Government is set for the prosecution of two Supreme
Court Justices and seven other judges in spite of the memos written by
three of them to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed.
The
charges against the judges were ready at press time, following the
conclusion of investigation by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Also,
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has started probing
the accounts of six judges of the Federal High Court who are undergoing
interrogation.
The anti-graft commission has allegedly discovered
payment of bribe sums/financial assistance into the accounts of two of
the six judges.
Investigation revealed that the DSS has gathered tons of evidence against the judges.
Those
under investigation are two Supreme Court judges namely Justices
Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro; the suspended Presiding Justice of
the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, Justice Mohammed Ladan Tsamiya,
who was picked up in Sokoto; Justice Adeniyi Ademola (Federal High
Court); the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike;
Justice Kabiru Auta of Kano State High Court; Justice Muazu Pindiga
(Gombe State High Court); Justice Bashir Sukola and Justice Ladan
Manir from the Kaduna State High Court.
Of the nine judges, the
NJC has recommended sanctions for Justice Mohammed Ladan Tsamiya; the
erstwhile Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike; and
Justice Kabiru Auta.
A source said: “The Federal Government is
going ahead with the trial of the nine judges. The charges and evidence
against them are ready. I can tell you that the DSS has conducted
diligent investigation.
“Even if you look at the list, only three
out of the nine judges have joined issues with some people. But these
issues have nothing to do with the overwhelming evidence against them.”
The
source added: “The trial will enable Nigerians to know how the sting
operations were conducted, the findings of DSS and the charges.
“If a judge alleges that DSS operatives planted money in his residence, did they also lodge cash in his account(s)?”
NBA demands justice
It
was further learnt that snippets of the findings were presented to the
executives of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) with the bar deciding
that justice must run its full course.
The bar has also asked that the judges being probed should step aside.
“This investigation was tight and it is in the public interest for the trial to begin as soon as possible,” the source said.
The
six judges of the Federal High Court who were interrogated during the
week and whose accounts are being scrutinised by the EFCC are Justices
Mohammed Nasir Yunusa; Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa; Musa Haruna Kurya;
Agbadu James Fishim; Uwani Abba Aji; and Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.
A
source in the anti-graft agency said: “We are looking into the accounts
of all the judges so far quizzed by our team, based on petitions and
preliminary investigations.
“It is too early to disclose our findings. But the affected judges have made statements in line with the law.”
The National Judicial Council (NJC) had in February sanctioned Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia for misconduct on the bench.
The Council also barred her from elevation to the Court of Appeal or taking any judicial appointment.
A
statement by the Acting Director of Information of NJC, Mr. Soji Oye
said: “The NJC, under the chairmanship of Justice Mahmud Mohammed, at
its meeting on February 24 and 25, 2016 decided to warn Justice Rita
Ofili-Ajumogobia and put her on the “watch-list” of the council for the
next four years.
“The judge will also not be considered for any
elevation to the Court of Appeal or any ad hoc judicial appointment till
her retirement from the Bench.
“The decision was sequel to the
petition written against her by Victoria Ayeni, alleging misconduct and
injustice on the part of Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia for failing to deliver
judgment in Suit No FHC/AB/CS/31/2011, a pre-election matter between
Victoria A. A. Ayeni and Olusola Sonuga and two Ors.
“She was also
alleged to have adjourned the pre-election matter severally until the
termination of the life span of the Ogun State House of Assembly. The
decision of the Council on Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia is with immediate
effect.”
Two of the six judges were alleged to have received over
N2.75 million bribe from two senior lawyers Rickey Tarfa (SAN) and
Joseph Nwobike (SAN).
The EFCC had on March 9, 2016 arraigned
Tarfa and Nwobike before Lagos High Court on allegations of bribery and
offering gratification to a public official.
“Nwobike and Tarfa
are facing criminal prosecution for allegedly offering gratification to
Federal High Court judges to restrain them from exercising the duties of
their office.
“Subsequent investigation revealed that the two Judges allegedly received sums of money from the two senior lawyers severally.”
Judge apologises to convict
Meanwhile,
a judge of the Federal High Court was alleged to have sneaked into Kuje
Prison in the Federal Capital Territory to apologise to an inmate for
wrongful conviction.
A reliable source said: “The judge disguised
and went to the prison yard on September 13. The convict was jailed for
being in possession of cocaine.
“But the Federal High Court judge met with the convict and expressed regrets for wrongful conviction.
“He said he knew that the convict was a victim of a set up and his conscience was troubling him.
“He offered to assist the convict in whatever manner to make his stay in prison comfortable.
“But security agencies have picked up the visit of the judge and they have started investigating it.”
