NJC Summons 3 State High Court Judges Over Poor Performance

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has summoned three State High Court judges to show cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against them for low performance.

This summon was made public Wednesday in a statement by Mr. Soji Oye, NJC's Acting Director of Information.

“The NJC's decision was taken at its 73rd Meeting chaired by Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mahmud Mohammed.

“The meeting also considered the report submitted by its committee on Performance Evaluation of Judicial Officers of Superior Courts of Record and decided to invite three High Court judges,” the statement which did not name the judges affected said.

The NJC also considered the appointments of some heads of courts at the meeting noting the swearing in of the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory based on the recommendation of the NJC.

“Three Heads of Courts, three High Court judges and one Customary Court of Appeal judge for the states were recommended and forwarded to their respective State Governors for appointment.”

It said candidates for appointment as Judicial Officers to Superior Courts of Record shall be interviewed by the National Judicial Council. This is according to one of the new Rules in the Revised 2014 Guidelines and Procedural Rules on appointment of Judicial Officers of the federation

“Pursuant to this new rule, two candidates were rejected after interview by National Judicial Council, having been found unsuitable due to their poor knowledge of basic law'', it said.

The statement said the council introduced two years ago, Freeze List of Courts that do not have sufficient workload.

“Such courts are not allowed to forward recommendation for new appointment of judges until their workload improves.

“At its recent meeting, two courts were put on the Freeze List by the council.

“This brings the total number of courts on the Freeze List in the federation to 26'', the statement added.

NAN.