The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the sacking of the Adamawa State High Court Judge, Justice Michael Goji for refusing to be transferred to the Mubi Judicial Division of the State High Court since July, 2017.
The NJC, under the Chairmanship of the Chief Judge of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, at its 86th meeting, said that the recommendation for the compulsory retirement of Justice Goji has been communicated to Governor Bindo Umaru Jibrilla of Adamawa State after the advice of the State Judicial Service Commission which findings implicated the erring judge on the allegations of misconduct.
“The Adamawa State Judicial State Commission had conducted an investigation on the conduct of Hon. Mr. Justice Goji, following the directive of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, after receiving the complaint of his misconduct from the Adamawa State Chief Judge.
“Aside from the recommendation for compulsory retirement, Council also directed that he should refund all salaries received by him from July, 2017 till date, failing which the Adamawa State Government is to deduct the amount from any entitlement due to him and remit same to the National Judicial Council which pays salaries of all Judicial Officers in the Federation.
“In the interim, the Council in exercise of its disciplinary powers under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, has suspended Hon. Mr. Justice Goji from office pending his removal from office.”
The Council also considered the reports of various Investigation Committees and dismissed petitions written against Justice Paul AdamuGalinje of the Supreme Court, Justice Aminu Sabo Ringim, Chief Judge of Jigawa State, and Justice Peter Umeadi, Chief Judge of Enugu State.
The petition against Justice Paul AdamuGalinje of the Supreme Court was dismissed sequel to its withdrawal by Yaro Abarshi and John Yobi Yarafa and others, who alleged that he interfered in a Chieftaincy matter in Taraba State.
The petition against Justice Aminu Sabo Ringim was also dismissed because the Petitioner, Dr Jamil Gwamna who wrote to Babatunde Raji Fashola, minister of Power and Works who in turn forwarded same to the National Judicial Council, withdrew the petition. The allegation was that the Judge ordered the arrest, assault, and detention of staff of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) when they disconnected the electricity at the State High Court and the Judge’s house for non-payment of bills. The Committee that investigated the matter found that the Petitioner could not show or prove that Hon. Mr. Justice Ringim instructed or directed the arrest of KEDCO’s staff.
The Council said that it did not find any reason to further investigate Justices Paul Galinje and Aminu Ringim after the withdrawals.
The Council, at the meeting also recommended 21 Judges for appointment as Chief Judges, Grand Kadi, High Court Judges, Sharia Court Kadis, President, Customary Court of Appeal, and one member, Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The Council also received the report of the Performance Evaluation Committee of Judicial Officers of Superior Courts of Record in the Federation on 16 Judges invited by the Committee to explain their low performance in the last two to four quarters in the year 2017. [myad]
