The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Mahmoud Abubakar (SAN), on Thursday urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to order the immediate stepping down of the seven Justices accused of judicial fraud.
Abubakar gave the advice at the valedictory session in honour of Justice Sotonye Denton-West of the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that for days now, the Country’s judiciary has come under criticisms over fraud allegations brought against the seven senior judicial officers.
They included two Justices of the Supreme Court and five Justices of the Federal High Court.
“I am sure that many here will be expecting me to make further statements on the ongoing events affecting the nation’s judiciary.
“I have in the course of the last two weeks or so made several statements and remarks on these developments. Our position is therefore well known.
“It appears to the NBA that it is extremely important that the NJC take very urgent steps to safeguard the public image and sanctity of the courts,’’ he said.
The NBA president said: “We therefore strongly recommend that, without prejudice to the innocence or otherwise of the Judges involved in the ongoing investigations, they should be required to excuse themselves from further judicial functions.
“Better still, they may be required to proceed on compulsory leave until their innocence is fully and completely established or until the conclusion of all judicial or disciplinary proceedings.
“We believe this will be necessary in order to protect the sanctity and integrity of judicial processes that may involve the judges concerned and safeguard the public image of the institution.’’
(NAN)
