The National Judicial Council (NJC), presided over by Nigeria’s Chief Justice, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, concluded its 104th sitting on December 6 and 7, 2023, by affirming that Justice Adepele Ojo is still the recognised Chief Judge of Osun State.
Following allegations levelled against the Chief Judge and the State House of Assembly’s resolution to suspend him, the Council directed Osun State to revert to the status quo after declining Governor Ademola Adeleke’s request for permission to swear in the next Most Senior Judge in the State in acting capacity.
A statement signed by the Director of Information of the NJC, Soji Oye, says the council also recommended the compulsory retirement of a judge of the Osun State High Court, Justice Sakariyah Oyejide Falola, from the Bench.
The recommendation follows the findings of an investigation committee in a petition written by Mr Dapo Kolapo Olowo and Polaris Bank against the judge for granting a Garnishee Order Absolute against the bank for the sum of N283,174,000.00 (Two Hundred and Eighty-Three Million, One Hundred and Seventy-Four Thousand Naira) in a questionable and strange manner.
The committee found the conduct of Justice Falola traveling to Lagos to visit the counsel of the bank in his chambers on the issue of Garnishee Proceedings, unbecoming of the standard expected of a judicial officer.
Consequently, the NJC in the exercise of its disciplinary powers under the Constitution has suspended Justice Falola from office pending the approval of the recommendation of his compulsory retirement by Governor Adeleke.
The Council also considered the reports of other investigation committees that had concluded their sittings, and dismissed the petitions written against the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaete Obot.
It similarly dismissed petitions against Justice Benson Anya of the High Court of Abia State, Justice Zainab Bage-Abubakar of the Federal High Court, and Justice Opufaa Ben-Whyte and Justice Augusta Chuku, both of the High Court of Rivers State, for being unmeritorious, or for withdrawal of the petitions by the petitioners.
Justice Anne Akobi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory is to be issued a letter of guidance to take proper charge and control of her court.
The NJC also considered the Report of its three Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees on 51 fresh petitions written against Federal and State Judicial Officers and decided to constitute 11 Panels to investigate petitions that had merits and dismissed the remaining petitions for being subjudice, having been withdrawn, and the subject judges having retired from service.
The Council also resolved to report a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ajibola Aribisala, to the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) for investigation and disciplinary action, for the unpalatable and derogatory remarks he made against a judicial officer and by extension, the NJC in his petition to the council.
Read the full press release of the NJC below:
NJC SACKS ONE JUDGE FOR MISCONDUCT • EMPANELS 12 COMMITTEES TO INVESTIGATE JUDICIAL OFFICERS
The National Judicial Council under the Chairmanship of Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, at its 104th Meeting of 6 & 7 December 2023 has recommended the compulsory retirement of Hon. Justice S. O. Falola of Osun State High Court from the Bench.
The recommendation was made sequel to the findings of an Investigation Committee in a petition written against His Lordship by Mr Dapo Kolapo Olowo and Polaris Bank for granting a Garnishee Order Absolute against the Bank for the sum of N283,174,000.00 (Two Hundred and Eighty-Three Million, One Hundred and Seventy-Four Thousand Naira) in a questionable and strange manner, and endorsement of the Order, attaching the account of the Garnishee with another garnishee and not the account of the Judgment Debtor who had the legal obligation to pay the supposed judgement sum.
They found that the subject Judge misconducted himself by entertaining Suit No HIK/41/2018 when there was no evidence of a judgement of the Kwara State High Court before him, neither was there a Certificate of Registration of same in Osun State to confer jurisdiction on him.
It further found the conduct of the subject Judge travelling to Lagos to visit the Counsel of the Bank in his Chambers on the issue of Garnishee Proceedings, unbecoming of the standard expected of a Judicial Officer.
Consequently, Council resolved to recommend him to Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State for compulsory retirement with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, in the exercise of its disciplinary powers under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, the National Judicial Council has suspended Hon. Justice S. O. Falola from office pending the approval of the recommendation of his compulsory retirement by the Osun State Governor.
Council considered the Reports of other Investigation Committees that had concluded their sittings, and dismissed the Petitions written against Hon. Justice Ekaete F. F. Obot, Chief Judge, Akwa Ibom State, Hon Justice Benson C. Anya of High Court Abia State, Hon. Justice Z. B. Abubakar of Federal High Court, Hon Justice Opufaa Ben-Whyte and Augusta Uche K. Chuku of the High Court of Rivers State, for being unmeritorious, or withdrawal of petition by the Petitioners.
However, Hon Justice A. I. Akobi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory is to be issued a letter of guidance to take proper charge and control of his Court.
The Plenary also considered the Report of its three Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees on 51 fresh petitions written against Federal and State Judicial Officers and decided to constitute 11 Panels to investigate petitions that had merits and dismissed the remaining petitions for being subjudice, having been withdrawn, and the Subject Judges having retired from service.
Council also resolved to report A. A. Aribisala, SAN to Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) for investigation and disciplinary action, for the unpalatable and derogatory remarks he made against a Judicial Officer and by extension, the NJC in his petition to the Council.
Council considered and declined the request of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State requesting its permission to swear in the next Most Senior Judge in the State in acting capacity, following allegations levelled against Hon. Justice Adepele Ojo, Chief Judge, Osun State and the resolution of the State House of Assembly to suspend him.
The Council affirmed that Hon. Justice Ojo is still the recognised Chief Judge of Osun State, and would not work on the resolution of a State House of Assembly, as it is the only body constitutionally empowered to investigate Judicial Officers and recommend same for any action to the Governor. Consequently, Osun State should revert to status quo.
It also received notification of retirements of seven Judicial Officers and notification of deaths of six serving Judicial Officers of Federal and State Courts.
Soji Oye, Esq.
Director, Information