NJC recommends disengagement of Yobe, Osun judges

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended compulsory retirement of the Grand Kadi of Yobe State, Shu’aibu Talba, and a judge of the Osun State High Court, Justice Abdulkareem Abdulrasaq, for alleged age falsification.

The body made the recommendation during its virtual 93rd meeting where it also approved the appointment of 69 other judicial officers to facilitate justice delivery nationwide.

According to a statement by Soji Oye, NJC’s Information Director, Talba was put up for disengagement after work on a petition by one Malam Zakar Adamu, Chairman, Movement for Justice in Nigeria.

The document claimed the judge doctored his age on two occasions, noting: “ First from February 1, 1955 to August 27, 1955, and later to December 30, 1959.

“Findings revealed that he was supposed to have retired on February 1, 2020 by virtue of his declared date of birth of February 1, 1955.

“Council, after deliberation, decided to recommend His Lordship’s compulsory retirement to Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State. Furthermore, Council requested the Government of Yobe State to deduct all salaries received by His Lordship from February 1, 2020 till date from his gratuity and remit same to the National Judicial Council that pays salaries of all judicial officers in the federation.”

The NJC also said in the statement that following investigation into another complaint against Justice Abdulrasaq by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Yomi Alliyu, it was discovered that the judge “falsified his date of birth from September 3, 1955 to September 3, 1957.”

It added: “Council therefore recommended His Lordship’s compulsory retirement to Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State with effect from September 3, 2020. It also requested the Osun State government to deduct from His Lordship’s gratuity, salaries received by him from September 3, 2020, and remit same to the National Judicial Council.”

The judicial entity, in exercising its disciplinary powers under the 1999 Constitution (as amended), suspended both Talba and Abdulrasaq from office pending action on the recommendations. The NJC however dismissed 18 petitions against 14 judicial officers for lacking in merit.