The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended compulsory retirement of Justice Mohammed Tsamiya, the Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, and sack of two others for professional misconduct.Those it asked to be dismissal immediately are Justice I. A. Umezulike, Chief Judge, Enugu State, and Justice Kabiru Auta of the High Court of Justice, Kano State.
The council’s Acting Director of Information, Mr Soji Oye, announced the decisions in a statement in Abuja on Fray.
The council stated that it reached the decisions at its council’s 78th meeting held on Thursday.
It directed that Auta be handed over to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 1, Kano, for prosecution.
The council said Tsamiya’s punishment followed its findings in a petition written by Nnamdi Oji against him and Justice Husseini Muktar.
It said others named in the petition were Justices F. O. Akinbami and J. Y. Tukur, all Justices of Court of Appeal, who sat on the Election Appeal Panel in Owerri Division of the court during the 2015 General Elections.
The council said the petition contained allegations of corruption, malice and vindictiveness; and giving perverse and conflicting decisions on the same issue in similar matters.
It listed the appeals to include CA/OW/EPT/SN/50/2015: Chief Dr David Ogba Onuoha Bourdex Vs Hon. Mao Ohuabunwa & Anor.
Others are CA/OW/EPT/SN/47/2015; Dr Orji Uzor Kalu & Anor Vs Hon. Mao Ohuabunwa & Orthers and CA/OW/EPT/HR/61/2015: Nnamdi Iro Oji Vs Nkole Uko Ndukwe & 16 Others.
The council said there was evidence that a petitioner met with Tsamiya three times in his residences in Sokoto, Gwarinpa, Abuja, and Owerri.
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