The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the compulsory retirement of an Osun State High Court Judge, Justice S. O. Falola.
The recommendation was made sequel to the findings of an Investigation Committee over a petition against him.
The petition was written against Justice Falola by Dapo Kolapo Olowo and Polaris Bank complaining that the judge granted a Garnishee Order which was Absolute against the Bank for N283,174,000.00 in a questionable and strange manner and endorsement of the Order, attaching the account of the Garnishee with another garnishee, and not the account of the Judgment Debtor, who had the legal obligation to pay the supposed judgement sum.
They found that the Judge misconducted himself by entertaining Suit No HIK/41/2018 when there was no evidence of a judgement of the Kwara State High Court before him, nor was there a Certificate of Registration of same in Osun State to confer jurisdiction on him.
It further found the conduct of the Judge travelling to Lagos to visit the Counsel of the Bank in his Chambers on the issue of Garnishee Proceedings unbecoming of the standard expected of a Judicial Officer.
Consequently, the Council resolved to recommend him to Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State for compulsory retirement with immediate effect.
In the exercise of its disciplinary powers under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, the NJC suspended Falola from office pending the approval of the recommendation of his compulsory retirement by the Osun State Governor.
The case of Justice Falola was one of the decisions taken by the NJC, with the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, as Chairman at its 104th Meeting between yesterday, December 6 and today, December 7.
