By Tony Christian
Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has taken the National Judicial Council, NJC, to the cleaners, accusing it of aiding judicial corruption-in view of what he termed mishandling of malfeasance and conducts of judicial officers in the country.
Odinkalu, a professor of law, on Thursday asserted in lengthy post via x that rather than being the solution, the NJC as presently constituted has become part of the problems.
He pointed out that if the NJC “is not willing to root out judicial crookedness, then it should be rooted out”, adding that “In plain language, the @njcNig is now deeply complicit in judicial corruption. It is handing out these irresponsible slaps on the wrist with utter disregard for their effect on judicial integrity or the damage that these entrench in the judiciary. This rot is deeply criminal.”
Odinkalu’s accusations is coming after the NJC handed a paltry one year suspension to three Judges of the High Court over various acts of judicial misconduct.
Daily Intel understands that Odinkalu’s vituperation stems from the gravity of the misconduct which he described as incommensurate with the sanctions handed to the judges.
The affected judges include Hon. Justice Jane Inyang of the Court of Appeal, Uyo Division, Hon. Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division and Hon. Justice Aminu Baffa Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Zamfara Division.
According to the lawyer “Jane Inyang became Justice of @CourtOfAppealNG in Sept 2023, less than 2 yrs ago. Yesterday, @njcNig suspended her for just 1 yr for egregious acts of judicial corruption while she sat in @FederalHigh. How can she still be a judge?!
“This was part of the last minute elevations masterminded by the baleful Olukakayode Ariwoola was he made his way out of office as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, #CJN, in Aug 2024.
“The only miracle in the case of Inyang Ekwo is how he has remained on the bench until now. He’s bn one of the more predictable judges in @FederalHigh. For the past year, he has bn under caution by @njcNig. Now, he has bn suspended for delivering judgment without hearing parties!
“Many will see these dispositions by @njcNig as progress; May be. But, these dispositions are evidence of the deep malaise that currently afflicts the #NigerianJudiciary. 1st, if a person is as crooked as Jane Inyang or as Inyang Ekwo, how can that person be a judge to begin with?
“2nd, if a judge can behave with such manifest impunity & disregard for the basic rules of judicial comportment as these 2 & still remain a judge – that’s what suspension for 1 year means – what wld it take for a judge to be relieved of their position? May be commit murder….?
“3rd, how did Jane Inyang manage to make it to @CourtOfAppealNG while the complaint about her conduct was still pending? @njcNig says it has suspended her from elevation for 5 yrs. U know what that means? She can still get to @SupremeCourtNg. U see the mess we are in?
“In plain language, the @njcNig is now deeply complicit in judicial corruption. It is handing out these irresponsible slaps on the wrist with utter disregard for their effect on judicial integrity or the damage that these entrench in the judiciary. This rot is deeply criminal.
“The conclusion is inescapable that @njcNig as currently constituted is part of the problem not part of the solution.
What it has done in these cases is just not good enough. If it is not willing to root out judicial crookedness, then it should be rooted out.”
