NJC faults NBA’s call for suspension of affected judges

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has faulted the call by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the compulsory suspension of some judges recently arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on corruption allegations.

The NBA President, Abubakar Mahmud (SAN) had, at a function in Abuja on Thursday, urged the affected judges to either be sent on compulsory suspension or cease to exercise their judicial powers until their innocence was proved.

The NJC argued in a statement late on Friday that the NBA was wrong in calling for the judges’ suspension having earlier supported the council’s decision to condemn the arrest, which it described as an attempt to cow the Judiciary.

The statement by its Acting Director, Information, Soji Oye, stated that the council could only exercise its disciplinary powers over judicial officers where due processes were complied with.

NJC said the midnight invasion of the judges’ houses and their arrest by DSS violated due process and could not serve as a basis for the NJC to suspend the affected judicial officers.