The National Judicial Council under the Chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, at its 86th Meeting, which was held on May 8 and 9, 2018, recommended the compulsory retirement of Justice Michael Goji of the High Court of Adamawa State for refusing to proceed on transfer to the Mubi Judicial Division of the State High Court since July, 2017.
The Judge was recommended for compulsory retirement to Governor Bindo Umaru Jibrilla of Adamawa State sequel to the advice of the State Judicial Service Commission to the Council after its findings on the allegations of misconduct levelled against him.
The Adamawa State Judicial State Commission had conducted an investigation on the conduct of Goji following the directive of Onnoghen after receiving the complaint of his misconduct from the Adamawa State Chief Judge.
Aside from the recommendation for compulsory retirement, the 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 Goji from office pending his removal from office.
Council considered the reports of various Investigation Committees and dismissed petitions written against Justice Paul Adamu Galinje of the Supreme Court; Justice Aminu Sabo Ringim, the Chief Judge of Jigawa State; and Justice Peter Umeadi, Chief Judge, Enugu State.
The petition against Galinje of the Supreme Court was dismissed sequel to its withdrawal by Hon. Yaro Abarshi and Hon. John Yobi Yarafa and others, who alleged that he interfered in a chieftaincy matter in Taraba State.
The petition against Ringim was also dismissed because the petitioner, Dr. Jamil Gwamna, who wrote to Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), Minister of Power, Works and Housing, 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 the Kano Electricity Distribution Company 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 Ringim instructed or directed the arrest of KEDCO staff.
The Council said it did not find any reason to further investigate Galinke and Ringim after the withdrawals.
Petitions written against 25 Judicial Officers and others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission were also considered by Council after which it resolved to empanel seven Committees to look into the allegations.
Petitions against various Judges were dismissed for lack of establishment of misconduct, being subjudice or that such petitions were matters for appeal.
The dismissed petitions were against Justices A. I. Chikere and J. T Tsoho, Emeka Nwite and Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court; Justice Adetokunbo Banjoko of FCT High Court; Justice Taminu Zailani, Chief Judge, Kaduna; Justice M. A. Adeigbe, High Court, Osun State (who had already retired from the Bench); and Justice E. N. Ogbuiji, High Court, Rivers State.
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.
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.
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