An anti-corruption coalition group, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption, has urged the National Judicial Council to investigate the the role of a retired judge, Justice George Oguntade, in the alleged bribery and corruption probe of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar.
Aside facing the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to defend himself on petitions of corrupt acts, the CCT boss may soon be guest of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission owing to some petitions submitted to the anti-graft agencies against him.
However, in a petition addressed to the chairman of NJC by the CSNAC, through its National Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the coalition urged the council to investigate the role of Oguntade in the probe of Umar, especially as it concerns how the retired judge was alleged to have tried to subvert the course of justice in favour of Rasheed Taiwo, a retired Comptroller of Customs, who had a case with the tribunal.
Taking the cue of its call for the investigation of the retired justice from the transcript of an interview an online newspaper, Sahara Reporters, had with Umar and published on November 26, 2015, the group said a thorough investigation of what transpired among Oguntade, Umar and others will restore the confidence of ordinary Nigerians in the judicial system as the last hope of the common man.
According to excerpt of the interview, the tribunal chairman revealed that the said Taiwo was introduced to him by Justice Oguntade.
He stated: “He (Oguntade) called me to say that he has a brother who has a problem in my court and asked whether there was any way I could help him. For him to even open his mouth to ask whether I could help his brother was even wrong, which means he wanted me to commit an illegality.”
Umar, however, said he responded thus: “My Lord, this is the position I’m going to take, and you should ask your cousin to look for a very good lawyer to defend him, and that is all I can do.”
The report further stated that as at the time Umar met with Oguntade, Taiwo had not been served yet because he was evading summons.
Upon meeting the retired Justice, he told him to inform his cousin to get a good lawyer.
About a week after he was back at his office in Abuja, Taiwo visited Umar, introducing himself as directed to see him by Oguntade.
At that point, the CCT chairman said he understood what was happening and said to Taiwo: “I have spoken about you with the Honourable Justice Oguntade and I told him that you should go and get a good counsel, and that is the only thing I can do for you. Go and get a counsel to represent you.”
Justice Umar further stated that he was not aware of any financial transaction between Taiwo and his personal assistant.
According to him, the whole episode was stage managed to tarnish his image and get him out of office.
According to CSNAC: “Over the years, judges and other judicial officers have been criticized for engaging in various corrupt practices, which include making pronouncements that are at variance with provisions of the law, ignoring judicial precedents as well as giving judgments for a fee amongst others. These corrupt activities have no doubt caused a huge dent on the image of the bench, miscarriage of justice, as well as eroding the confidence of litigants in the judiciary.
“Former Nigeria Bar Association President Mr. J.B. Daudu SAN had some time ago described some judges as courier, accusing some eminent retired justices of being the midwife between serving justices and litigants to sell judgements.
“CSNAC is therefore by this petition demanding that the Council carries out its constitutional responsibility by conducting a thorough investigation into the alleged role of Justice Oguntade (Rtd.) in the matter and appropriate sanctions be handed down where he has been found culpable.
“This will not only restore the confidence of ordinary Nigerians in our judicial system as the last hope of the common man, it also show that the law is truly no respecter of persons and contribute greatly to ridding the bench of corruption; thereby returning the judiciary to its enviable status.”
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