By Austin Ogwuda
THE National Judicial Council, NJC under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, held its 105th Meeting on May 15 and 16, 2024, rolling out different sanctions against erring Judges across the country.
One of the affected Judges punished is a High Court Judge in Delta State, Nigeria, Justice G.B. Brikins-Okolosi over his failure to deliver judgment within the stipulated period in the case – Joseph Anene Okafor Vs Skye Bank, even after the parties had filed and adopted their final written addresses.
Justice Brikins-Okolosi was among the several Judges who received one punishment or the other over infractions arising from petitions written against them by distressed litigants, lawyers and the civil society groups.
A statement signed by the NJC Director of Information, Soji Oye at the end of the meeting reads:
“The National Judicial Council under the Chairmanship of Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, at its plenary of 105th Meeting held on 15 & 16 May 2024, resolved to issue warning letters to Hon Justice Inyang E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court and Hon. Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court.
“Hon Justice Inyang E. Ekwo is warned for abuse of discretionary power of a Judge by wrongly granting an ex parte order in Suit No FHC/ABJ/C/626/2023 Juliet Ebere Nwadi Gbaka & 2 Ors V Seplat Energy Plc & 12 Ors,
“The Hon Judge is also barred from being elevated to a higher Bench for a period of two years.
“Hon. Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court is also issued a warning for failure to deliver judgement within stipulated period in Joseph Anene Okafor Vs Skye Bank, Suit No A/94/2010 after parties had filed and adopted their final Written Addresses.
“Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi will also not be elevated to a higher Bench for a period of three years.
“Council cautioned Hon. Justice Amina Shehu of Yobe State High Court for issuing Writ of Possession Conferring Title on the Defendant in Suit No YBS/HC/NNR/1cv/2020 when there was no subsisting judgement of any Court to enable His Lordship issue the Writ.
“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.
“Petition against various Judges were dismissed for lack of merit, evidence of misconduct, subjudice or that they were matters that could be appealed.
The dismissed petitions were against Hon Justices A. M. Liman, A. A. Okeke, D. E. Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Hon Justices S. B. Belgore, Bello Kawu both of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, Hon Justices O. A. Chijioke, A. E. Akeredolu and Kadi M. U. El-Mainari who sat on Election Petition Tribunal in Edo State, Hon Justice Okey Paulinus Aneke, High Court Enugu State and Hon Justice C. Anya of Abia State.
“Others are Hon Justices M. A. Ikpambese and W. I. Kpochi both of Benue High Court, Hon Justices T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka Chief Judge and B. C. Iheka of Imo State High Court, Hon Justice Rose Godwin Soji of Nasarawa State High Court, Hon Justice T. J. Yakubu, High Court Taraba State, High Justices W. N. Danagogo and Chinwendu Nworgu, High Court Rivers State, Hon Justice C. C. Okaa, High Court Anambra State and Hon Justice Abdullahi Sulyman High Court, Kogi State”, the statement added.
… Wike’s wife, CJN daughter in-law for elevation to higher bench
Meanwhile, the wife of former governor of Rivers State, Justice Nyesome-Wike Suzzette and the daughter in-law to the Chief Justice of Nigeria Olukayode Ariwoola Oluwakemi were among others have been recommended for going up the judicial ladder.
Justice Nyesome-Wike Suzzette is presently a Justice at the Rivers State High Court, recommended for elevation to the Court of Appeal while Justice Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria, the daughter-in-law to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola was recommended for elevation to the Federal High Court.
Suzzette and Victoria are among the 86 Judges listed for recommendation by the Interview Committee on Appointment of Judicial Officers of all Superior Courts of Record in Nigeria, under the National Judicial Council, during its 105th plenary meeting held between May 15 and 16, 2024; a statement from the council noted.
“All recommended candidates are expected to be sworn in after the approval of the NJC recommendations to the President and their respective State Governors”, said the Council’s Director of Information, Soji Oye, in a
statement dated May 16, 2024.
Source: Punch
