Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia

The National Judicial Council (NJC) on Thursday recommended the dismissal from office of Justice R. N. Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court and Justice James T. Agbadu-Fishim of the National Industrial Court (NIC) of Nigeria.

The Council, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen arrived at the decision to sack the two judges at its 87th Meeting which was held on October 3.

The NJC also ordered Justice Joshua E. Ikede of the Delta State High Court to refund two-years’ salaries for falsifying his retirement age.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by Soji Oye, the Council’s spokesperson, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia was recommended to President Muhammadu Buhari for removal by dismissal from office pursuant to the findings by the Council on the allegations of misconduct contained in a petition to the Council by the Acting Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

The petition alleged that Justice Ofili- Ajumogobia is a Director/Chief Executive Officer and sole signatory to Nigel and Colive Company which is contrary to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The petition further alleged that several individuals, government officials and business partners lodged funds into various accounts belonging to the judge.

However, the court could not consider other allegations against Ofili- Ajumogobia in the petition because they were already before a court where she is standing trial, leaving them for the trial to take its  course.

Justice Agbadu-Fishim was recommended for removal by dismissal from office sequel to the findings of the Council on the allegations contained in another petition by the EFCC, alleging that the he received various sums of money from litigants and lawyers that had cases before him under the false pretence that he was bereaved or that there was delay in the payment of his salary.

“This is contrary to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In the interim, the Council, in exercise of its disciplinary powers under paragraph 21 (d) of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, has suspended Justices R. N. Ofili-Ajumogobia and James T. Agbadu-Fishim with immediate effect pending their removal from office by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement read in part.

The Council rejected the letter of voluntary retirement, purported to be with effect from the 1st of October 2018, submitted to it by Justice Joshua E. Ikede of the Delta State High Court. The decision of the Council followed the findings on an allegation of falsification of age contained in a petition written by Zik Gbemre, National Co-ordinator of the Niger Delta Peace Coalition.

“Council found that the Hon. Judge ought to have retired since 1st October 2016. Consequently, it backdated his retirement to 2016 and recommended to the Government of Delta State to deduct from the retirement benefits of the judge, all salaries received by him from October, 2016 till date and remit it to NJC which pays salaries of all Judicial Officers in the Federation,” the statement added.