By Anthony  Ochela, Abuja 

National Judicial Council, NJC, has placed Justices Jane  Inyang of the Court of Appeal, Uyo Division; Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, and Aminu Baffa Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Zamfara, on  one-year suspension without pay.

NJC’s spokesperson, Mrs. Kemi Babalola said the decision was taken at its 108th meeting held in Abuja between April 29 and 30.

The council also set up nine committees headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun to investigate allegations of misconduct raised in petitions against 27 other judges.

Part of the statement reads: “The council suspends Justice Inyang of the Court of Appeal, Uyo Division, for one year without pay, as the investigation committee found His Lordship to have breached Rule 3 (5) of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.

“Inyang was found to have abused his office by issuing inappropriate ex-parte orders for the sale of Udeme Esset’s petrol station and other businesses at interlocutory stage of the case.

“The act of judicial misconduct occurred while His Lordship presided over suit no FHC/UY/CS/46/2023 at the Federal High Court, Uyo before his elevation to the Court of Appeal.

“Furthermore, Justice  Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, has been placed on suspension for one year without pay. His Lordship was also placed on a watch-list for five years and barred from elevation for five years.

“The complaints against Ekwo arose from charge no FHC/ABJ/CR/184/2021, wherein His Lordship delivered a ruling in a pending application without hearing the parties.

“His Lordship ignored an application to set aside the proceedings of the court conducted in the absence of the parties.

“Subsequently, he proceeded to deliver a ruling dismissing the charge against the defendants.

“Consequently, His Lordship was found to have violated Rule 3.1 and 3.3 of the 2016 Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The council also suspended Justice Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Zamfara Division for a period of one year without pay for judicial misconduct in breach of Rule 3 (1) and 5 of the 2016 Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.

“It also placed His Lordship on the watch-list for three years, within which  he is barred from elevation.

“Baffa was found liable for act of judicial misconduct in suit no FHC/GS/CS/30/2021, the Government of Zamfara State vs EFCC, wherein His Lordship granted an order restraining security agencies from carrying out their statutory duties and disregarded the doctrine of stare decisis in adjudication of the case.

“The council also issued a letter of caution to Justice A. O Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, in a petition filed by  Kasali Azeez Olagoke and S. Hamza in suit no FHC/CS/2021 between Chief Adesanya Musediku against the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Onikan, Zone 2.

“The petition against Justice Othman  Musa of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory was put in abeyance pending the outcome of the decision of the Court of Appeal arising from suit no FCT/HS/BW/2274/15.

“The petition against Justice C. N Mbonu Nwenyi of the High Court of Anambra State by one Professor Paul Obianaso was discountenanced after investigation revealed that there was no misconduct on the part of His Lordship.

“Another petition against Justice I. E. Ekwo in suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2015 was put in abeyance pending the outcome of appeal before the Court of Appeal.

“Council discountenanced a petition by Mrs Adaku Amadi against Justice R. B Haastrup of the National Industrial Court, as the petitioner withdrew her complaints.

“Council equally considered the report of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee, which contained a total number of 43 petitions.

“Nine committees were empanelled for further investigation of 11 petitions, while 29 petitions were dismissed for lacking in merit.

“Three petitions against Justices Abubakar Babashani of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory; Isaac Essien of the National Industrial Court; and A. O Musa of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory by Henry Chinweike Okoro; Ikemefuna Stephen Nwoye,  and Lassborn Chichebem Orjiugo, respectively, were put in abeyance pending the decisions of the Court of Appeal.

“Council also considered a petition by  Mahmud Aliyu against the appointment of three judges to the High Court of Zamfara State.

“The petitioner complained that the exercise conducted in 2022 by the Zamfara State Judicial Service Commission, which led to the emergence of shortlisted candidates was not transparent and was characterised by nepotism, high-handedness and non-compliance with Rules 4, 5 and 6 of the NJC guidelines for the appointment of Judicial Officers 2014.

“That the nominees were unilaterally picked by the chairman of the Zamfara State Judicial Service Commission in disregard of the NJC’s guidelines on merit-based assessment.

“Council, however, deliberated on its committee’s findings on the petition and resolved that the petitioner was an interested party who had indicated interest, but was not selected as a candidate.

“Council noted that the petitioner’s allegations were unsubstantiated and substantially based on falsehood.

It, therefore, resolved that the “petitioner who was a candidate for judicial appointment and intentionally peddled falsehoods against another aspiring judicial officer will be barred from participation in any future exercise.”

Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has initiated an investigation into alleged discrepancies in the disbursement of student loans under the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFund).

The investigation was prompted by a recent media report claiming that 51 tertiary institutions were involved in illegal deductions and exploitation related to the NELFund scheme.

These institutions allegedly made unauthorised deductions ranging from N3,500 to N30,000 from each student’s institutional fees received through the loan fund.

A statement yesterday by ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, said preliminary findings had revealed a significant gap in the financial records of the disbursement process.

He noted that while the federal government  released N100 billion for the scheme, only N28.8 billion was disbursed to students, leaving an unaccounted sum of N71.2 billion.

Bakare said commission’s chairman’s special task force immediately began its investigation upon receiving the report.

He said letters of investigation and invitations were sent to key stakeholders, including the director general of the budget office, the accountant general of the federation, and senior officials from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Bakare said Akintunde Sawyerr, the managing director of NELFund, has also been invited to provide documentation and explanations relevant to the case.

According to the ICPC, the total money received by NELFund as of March 19, 2024, was N203.8 billion.

“The breakdown showed that N10 billion was an allocation from the Federation Allocation Account Committee, N50 billion was from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, N71.9 billion was from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, while another N71.9 billion was also from the same Tertiary Education Trust Fund,” the statement reads.

“The ICPC found that the total amount disbursed to institutions from inception to date is about N44,200,933,649.00, with 299 institutions having benefited from the funds released. To date, the total amount disbursed to 299 beneficiary institutions stands at approximately N44.2 billion, with 293,178 students having benefited from the fund.

“The ICPC confirmed that a clear case of discrepancies has been established in the administration of the student loan scheme and announced that its investigation will now extend to beneficiary institutions and individual student recipients.”