By Joseph Edegbo
The National Judicial Council has warned two Judicial Officers of the Federal and State High Court.
This is part of the decisions of the council at its 97th Meeting held on 15 and 16 March 2022.
One of the two Judges is Justice Muawiyah Baba Idris of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja who was issued a warning letter and placed on Council’s “Watch List” for a period of one year .
He was found to have signed the Writ of Possession for execution on the same day he delivered judgment in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/FT/36/19 between Sicons Nigeria Ltd V Nile Place Restaurant and Catering Services Ltd.
According to Soji Oye the NJC Director of Information, the Suit was for recovery of demised property.
The NJC agreed with the findings of the Committee that investigated the Judge that his action was in contravention of Proviso to Order 27 Rule (16) (b) High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Civil Procedure Rules 2018 and Order 4 (1) and (2) of the Judgment Enforcement Rules 2004.
The Council also resolved to issue a warning letter to Justice M. M. Ladan of the High Court of Kaduna State having found merit in the petition written against him in Suit No. KDH/KAD/1321/2018 between VTLS Inc. Vs Ahmadu Bello University.
Justice Ladan signed the Writ of Attachment while the Garnishee Order Nisi was pending.
Meanwhile, the Council has recommended Fifteen successful candidates as Heads of Courts and other Judicial Officers in Nigeria.
They are the Chief Judge of Plateau State, Justice David Gwong Mann, Chief Judge of Gombe State Justice Joseph Ahmed Awak, Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Kaduna State Kadi Abdurrahman Umar Abubakar, Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Taraba State Kadi Shuaibu Dahiru Ahmad, President, Customary Court OF Appeal, Rivers State Justice Ihemnacho Wilfred Obuzor, President, Customary Court of Appeal, Cross River State Justice Sampson Mbeh Anjor.
The National Judicial Council also recommended the appointments of six judges, Federal High Court, Bala Khalifa-Mohammed Usman, Emmanuel Gakko , Aminu Garba, Musa Sulaiman Liman, Ahmad Gama Mahmud, Segun-Bello Mabel Taiye.
All recommended candidates are expected to be sworn-in after approval by the President, Muhammadu Buhari and their respective State Governors and confirmation by the National Assembly and the respective State House of Assemblies as the case may be.
The Members also considered the reports of various Committees and noted the notification of retirements of 23 Judicial Officers of the Federal and State Courts and notification of death of one State High Court Judge