The National Judicial Council (NJC) handed three judges one-year suspensions on Wednesday for disgraceful conduct and performances of actions at variance to judicial codes.
The judges were Justice Jane E. Inyang of the Uyo Division of the Court of Appeal, Justice Inyang Ekwo and Justice Aminu Baffa Aliyu of the Abuja Division and Zamfara Division of the Federal High Court.
JUSTICE JANE E. INYANG
Justice Jane E. Inyang granted an interim order for the sale of commercial assets belonging to Udeme Esset, who formerly owned Stratas Filling Station and was a director of Jopen Oil Filling Station in Akwa Ibom State.
Esset was said to have obtained a loan from Keystone Bank between 2002 and 2004 and failed to repay same.
When the matter was taken to Inyang’s court, he gave the order via an ex parte application.
Ex parte orders are usually granted to preserve the status quo or natural order of things pending when appropriate parties would appear before the court to defend their position.
But Inyang granted the request to dissipate the properties, an order the NJC said breached Rule 3 (5) of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.
“Specifically, in its resolution, the Council suspends Hon. Justice Jane E. Inyang, Court of Appeal, Uyo Division, for one year without pay, as the Investigation Committee found His Lordship to have breached Rule 3 (5) of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers,” said Kemi Ogedengbe Babalola, deputy director of information for NJC.
“Hon. Justice Jane E. Inyang was found to have abused his office by issuing inappropriate Ex parte Orders for the sale of Hon. Udeme Esset’s petrol station and other businesses at interlocutory stage of the case.
“The act of judicial misconduct occurred while His Lordship presided over Suit No. FHC/UY/CS/46/2023, at the Federal High Court, Uyo Judicial Division, before his elevation to Court of Appeal.”
JUSTICE INYANG EKWO
Justice Inyang Ekwo’s sanction was triple-edged. The council placed him on a year-long suspension, placed him on a five-year watch list and barred him from career progression for the next five years.
Presiding over an Abuja Federal High Court, he delivered a ruling in an application without bearing the parties’ identities in violation of Rule 3.1 and Rule 3.3 of the judicial code of conduct.
“The complaints against Hon. Justice Ekwo arose from Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/184/2021, wherein His Lordship delivered a Ruling in a pending application without hearing the parties. His Lordship ignored an application to set aside the proceedings of the Court conducted in the absence of the parties,” the council stated.
“Subsequently, His Lordship proceeded to deliver a ruling dismissing the Charge against the Defendants. Consequently, His Lordship was found to have violated Rule 3.1 and 3.3 of the 2016 Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
JUSTICE AMINU BAFFA ALIYU
The NJC found Justice Baffa to have violated Rule 3 (1) and Rule 5 of judicial regulations for granting an order preventing law enforcement from performing their duties.
For that misconduct, Baffa will be on suspension for a year without pay. Additionally, he has lost eligibility for promotion for the next three years and will be watch-listed for the same period.
“The Council also suspended Hon. Justice Aminu Baffa Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Zamfara Division for a period of one (1) year without pay for judicial misconduct in breach of Rule 3 (1) and 5 of the 2016 Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers,” the council resolved.
“It also placed His Lordship on the Watch-List for three (3) years within which period he is barred from elevation.
“Hon. Justice Baffa was found liable for act of judicial misconduct in Suit No. FHC/GS/CS/30/2021, the Government of Zamfara State vs EFCC, wherein His Lordship granted an order restraining security agencies from carrying out their statutory duties, and disregarded the doctrine of stare decisis in adjudication of the case.”
Some other judges were cleared after petitions against them had little or no substance. Justice A. O. Awogboro of Federal High Court in Lagos was given clearance in a complaint lodged by Kasali Azeez Olagoke and S. Hamza in suit FHC/CS/2021 between Chief Adesanya Musediku against Assistant General of Police, Onikan, Zone 2.
Others cleared were Justice C. N. Mbonu Nwenyi of the Anambra State High Court. Professor Paul C. Obianaso, a legal practitioner, had accused him of misconduct in a matter.
Justice R. B. Haastrup of the National Industrial Court had a petition filed by Adaku Amadi, a petitioner, withdrawn against him, and the council subsequently binned it.
The latest decisions by NJC underscore the depth of corruption in the judiciary, which often results in miscarriage of justice and erodes public confidence in the justice system.
In December, FIJ highlighted 8 judges who were compulsorily retired and suspended by NJC for various acts of illegality and misconduct.
