From Godwin Tsa Abuja
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has sanctioned five serving judicial officers for various acts of misconduct.
The Council specifically suspended Justice G. C. Aguma of High Court of Rivers State from performing judicial functions for a period of one year without pay and also placed him on “Watch-List” for two years thereafter.
The council’s findings revealed that Hon. Justice G. C. Aguma, committed acts of misconduct by aiding a litigant who obtained a judgment at the FCT High Court, Abuja, and filed a garnishee against judgement debtors in Bori Division of the High Court, Rivers State.
“The council finds that Justice Aguma failed to raise any query as to why the garnishee proceedings were brought to his Court in Bori for a money judgment that could effectively be enforced in Abuja.
“That the judgment was delivered on 15 July 2020, at the High Court of the FCT, while the certificate of judgment was registered at Bori Division of the High Court of Rivers State on 16 July 2020.
Also suspended at the 107th meeting of the Council held on 13 and 14 November 2024, is Hon. Justice A. O. Nwabunike of Anambra State High Court.
He was suspended from performing judicial functions for one year without pay and placed on “Watch-List” for two years thereafter.
Justice A. O. Nwabunike was found to have breached the provision of Rule 3.1 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2016. “He also failed to adhere to the principle of stare decisis from his different interpretation of the word “aspirant” and abused his judicial powers by granting ex parte orders without a Motion on Notice filed along with the Originating Summons.
The Council also recommended compulsory retirement for two Heads of Court over falsification of age.
They are the Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka and the Grand Kadi of Yobe State, Kadi Babagana Mahdi.