NJC tackles Presidency over recall of judges

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has debunked statements credited to the Presidency that the recall of six judges was hasty and against the federal government’s anti-graft war.

In a statement by the NJC Director of Information, Soji Oye yesterday, the council said its decision was based on the principles of Rule of Law and fairness.

The Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution, Okoi Obono-Obla and the chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) had accused the NJC of not being on board in the anti-graft war, following the recall of the judges.

But the NJC blamed the prosecution for its failure to file notice of appeal within the stipulated time in the case of recalled Justice Adeniyi Ademola.

“Contrary to the above statement, the Registry of the High Court of the FCT, Abuja, informed the Department of Information of the National Judicial Council that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation filed two Notices of Appeal in the Court; the first one on 7th April, 2017, against Justice A. F. A. Ademola, his wife, Olabowale Ademola and Joe Agi, SAN. The second one was filed on 6th of June, 2017, two days after the Press Release was issued by the National Judicial Council, with additional grounds of appeal against only Justice A.F.A. Ademola,” the statement said.

“It is on record that when the parties were invited by High Court of the FCT for settlement of records to be transmitted to the Court of Appeal on 18th April, 2017, the appellant failed to turn up. The Registrar of the Court further adjourned the settlement of records to 21st April, 2017, and invited all the parties, but the appellant again did not come to Court.