Two judges have been reommended for dismissal by the Nigeria Judicial service commission. They are  , Justices Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court and James Agbadu-Fishim of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.   NJC made the recommendation to President Muhammadu Buhari in a statement by the commission’s Director, Information, Soji Oye, Esq.  NJC said its investigations into the allegations found the judges wanting.

There dismissal was on the allegations of corruption levelled against them by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC.  The commission also Rejected the voluntary retirement of a Judge, Justice Joshua E. of the Delta High Court, and ordered him to refund two (2) years’ salary and emoluments.

The  statement below:  The National Judicial Council under the Chairmanship of the Honourable Mr. Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, GCON, at its 87th Meeting which was held on 3rdOctober 2018, recommended the removal by dismissal from office, of Hon. Mr. Justice R. N. Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court and Hon. Mr. Justice James T. Agbadu-Fishim of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria. Hon. Mr. Justice R. N. Ofili-Ajumogobia was recommended to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, 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, Mr Ibrahim Magu, alleging that: Hon. Mr. Justice R. N. Ofil-Ajumogobia is a Director/Chief Executive Officer and sole signatory to Nigel and Colive Company contrary to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Several personalities, individuals, government officials and business partners lodged funds into various accounts belonging to the Hon. Judge; and There was an ex-parte communication between the Hon. Judge and Mr. Godwin Oblah, SAN, during the pendency of his matter before the His Lordship. The Council, however, could not consider other allegations in the petition because they are already before a court where the judge is standing trial. Council left those matters for the trial to take its legal course. Hon. Mr. Justice James T. Agbadu-Fishim of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria was also recommended for removal by dismissal from office sequel to the findings of the Council on the allegations contained in another petition by the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleging that the Hon. Judge received various sums of money from litigants and lawyers that had cases before him, and some influential Nigerians, 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 Hon. Mr. 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.

Right thing must be done, Okorocha says, as APC govs protest ‘rancorous’ primaries.

The chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Rochas Okorocha, on Thursday said the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress must do the right thing and allow everybody to participate in its ongoing nationwide primaries.

Okorocha, who is the Imo State governor, said this in a brief interview with State House correspondents after leading eight other state governors elected on the platform of the APC to a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

All the governors who met behind closed-doors with the President are believed to have issues with party primaries in their states.

Okorocha confirmed that the meeting was about the rancorous party primaries across the country.

He expressed the belief that the party leadership would rescind some of its decision on the matter, saying the APC believes in justice, equity and fairness.

He said, “We came to review the various crises characterising our primaries, with a view to finding solution.

“So, we are looking for a way out in this regard. We are going to find solution; our party believes in justice, equity and fairness.

“We are requesting that let the right thing be done and let everyone contest the elections.”

Apart from Okorocha, other governors who attended the meeting were Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Sani Bello (Niger), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), and Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa).

Akeredolu and Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State had, on Wednesday, met the President on the same matter.

The meeting between the President and the governors lasted about two hours.

At the end of the meeting, the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, who was part of the meeting, led the state governors out of the venue.

Kyari also left the Presidential Villa with them.

After accompanying the governors to where their cars were parked, Abba Kyari also entered his car and was driven out of the premises.

It was not clear whether they were heading to the same place