Group urges Buhari to remove corrupt judges illegally reinstated by NJC

Says it’s sabotage of war against graft in judicial system

Anti-corruption coalition group, Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take swift action in removing corrupt judges who were ‘illegally’ reinstated by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

In a four-page petition signed by the coalition Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the anti-corruption group described the reinstatement of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, Justice James Agbadu-Fishim and Justice Nasir Yinusa as sabotage of the war against corruption in the judicial system.

CSNAC collaborates with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as well as the Code of Conduct Bureau in the arrest, investigation and prosecution of corrupt public officers in and outside the country.

According to the petition, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, was arrested and investigated by the EFCC for alleged corrupt practices and abuse of office. The President approved her dismissal from public service, but the NJC reportedly reinstated her, as a judge of the Federal High Court despite her dismissal not being overturned by any court in Nigeria.

“Similarly, the NJC also reinstated Justice Agbadu-Fishim as a judge despite his arrest and investigation by the EFCC for alleged corruption and subversion of justice. The NJC had recommended his dismissal to the president for judicial misconduct, but later decided to reinstate him as a judge.

“Despite previously indicting him for gross misconduct and recommending his retirement to the President, the Council had placed Justice Nasir Yinusa on suspension pending the approval of the recommendation, but surprised many by reinstating him,” the group claimed.

Meanwhile, the coalition explained that the Judicial Council has no legal right to reinstate judges, who were previously indicted for misconduct, adding that the Council has overstepped its bounds by ignoring the recommendation to retire the judges and proceeding with their reinstatement.

The president, it said, is required by law to accept or reject the recommendations made by the Council, and that the Council does not have the power to unilaterally reinstate judges, who have been indicted for misconduct.

The coalition, however, in a letter sent to the President and copied to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, asked the president to approve the retirement of Justice Yinusa on the recommendation of the NJC and direct the NJC to reverse the ‘illegal’ reinstatement of Ofili-Ajumogobia and Agbadu-Fishim as judicial officers in Nigeria.