NJC ISSUES WARNING LETTERS TO THREE JUDGES, BARS THEM FROM ELEVATION
During the 105th Meeting of the National Judicial Council, which was chaired by Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, on May 15 and 16, 2024, the Council decided to send warning letters to Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court and Justice GB Brikins-Okolosi of the Delta State High Court.
According to a statement from Soji Oye, the NJC Director of Information, Justice Ekwo has been admonished for misusing his or her discretionary power by incorrectly awarding an ex parte order in a lawsuit involving Juliet Ebere Nwadi Gbaka and two other parties and Seplat Energy Plc and twelve other parties.
Additionally, Justice Ekwo will not be eligible for promotion to a higher bench for two years.
Hon. Justice GB Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court on his part, is also issued a warning for failure to deliver judgement within stipulated period in Joseph AneneOkafor Vs Skye Bank, after parties had filed and adopted their final Written Addresses.
Justice Brikins-Okolosi will also not be elevated to a higher Bench for a period of three years.
The NJC also cautioned Justice Amina Shehu of Yobe State High Court for issuing Writ of Possession Conferring Title on the Defendant in a suit when there was no subsisting judgement of any Court to enable His Lordship issue the Writ.
The Council at the meeting considered two Reports of its two Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees that filtered 35 petitions written against Judges of the Federal and State High Courts and decided to empanel eight Committees to further investigate the petitions that were found meritorious by the Committees.
The Council also considered the recommendation of its Interview Committee on Appointment of Judicial Officers of all Superior Courts of Record in Nigeria and resolved to recommend 86 Judicial Officers for appointment to the Court of Appeal, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Sharia Courts of Appeal and Customary Courts of Appeal of States in Nigeria.