The Nigeria Judicial Council (NJC) has rejected the resignation letter tendered by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, a judge of the Federal Court, Abuja, saying it was a ruse to cover up his recommendation for sack due to misconduct.

Ademola, who is one of the judges whose residences were raided by personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) in October, 2016 tendered his resignation on Thursday without reasons.

But a statement released on Thursday by the NJC through its spokesman, Soji Oye said the Council had already recommended Ademola for compulsory retirement, describing his resignation as an ‘after – thought.’

“The public is hereby informed to disregard news circulating on some news media that Hon. Mr. Justice Ademola has voluntarily retired. The purported voluntarily retirement is cleanly an afterthought as Council had taken action before his decision to forward any voluntary retirement letter,” the statement read.

It added: “The National Judicial Council, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, at its 84th meeting which was held on December 6, 2017, recommended the compulsory retirement from office of Justice A.F.A. Ademola and Justice O.O. Tokode both of the Federal Court for misconduct.

“Mr. Ademola who had forwarded his notice of retirement on 10th October, 2017 to the Council as against 9th April, 2018, when he will attain the mandatory retirement age of 65 years was recommended for compulsory retirement from office to President Muhammadu Buhari, pursuant to the findings by the council on the allegation contained in the petition written against his Lordship by a group of 8 persons under the name of Committee of Anambra State PDP House of Representatives Members-Elect.”

The statement also said Justice Tokode was recommended for retirement following findings in the petitions forwarded by the Socio – Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and one Abimbola Awogboro.

It further disclosed that the NJC had issued serious warning letters to Hon. Mr. Justice A. N. Ubaka of the National Industrial Court for failing to deliver ruling in Suit No. NICN/BEN/51/2014 within the specified time by law and Hon. Mrs. Justice Zainab Aliyu Sadat of the Niger State High Court for claiming that the Defendant in Suit No. NHSC/MN/46/216 failed to make available authority cited by them after submission of the argument to her.