Three Judges May Face Disciplinary Actions In Delta – Chief Judge

BEVERLY HILLS, April 29, (THEWILL) – Three judges in Delta state may face disciplinary action following allegations of professional misconduct leveled against them, THEWILL has learnt.

Delta state Chief Judge, Justice Marshall Mukoro, dropped this hint on Wednesday in an address presented on the occasion of the inauguration and swearing-in of the interim committee of the newly formed Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Effurun Branch, Uvwie Local Government Area of the State.

Justice Mukoro said that his office has received several petitions emanating from members of the NBA against a Magistrate and High Court Judges in the state, saying that a disciplinary committee will be constituted to try the erring judicial officials.

The Chief Judge, who however frowned at frivolity of petitions raised by some lawyers alleging professionally misconduct, said most of the petitions turned out not to be true as some lawyers have formed the habit of writing petition on frivolities. He therefore appealed to the NBA to caution its members on petition writing, noting that it is militating against the judiciary.

He also frowned at the attitude of some lawyers who in the habit of using legal technicalities such as injunction, incessant adjournments and refusal to appear in court to delay justice, reiterating that such actions often militate against the judiciary.

While acknowledging that judges are not angels, Justice Umukoro stated that those who raise allegation on biasness of some judges must have reasonable evidence to prove their cases, stressing that “Magistrates and Judges are not angels. But we strive to abide by the oath of office we swear. When you write petition, you put the career of tjat person in jeopardy. Please let us be slow in writing petition.”

Speaking earlier, National President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Augustine Alegeh SAN commended the lawyers for establishing the new branch, disclosing that the bar now has 114 branches across the country.

He charged the executive of the new branch to work harmoniously with the executive of their parent Warri branch and their sister branches at all times to enable them realise their potentials.

“I charge the new executive and members of Effurun branch to maintain the highest level of professionalism and discipline in the discharge of their duties and to always conduct themselves in strict compliance and adherence with the provisions of the NBA constitution and the uniform guidelines and byelaws for NBA branches, Sections and Fora,2015”, he added.

Mr. Alegeh warned members to desist from engaging in unwholesome practices and unprofessional conduct, threatening that lawyers who engage in influencing judicial officers to obtain rulings and judgments will henceforth face disciplinary actions.

“We must seize the lifeline being offered to us to redeem the image of our noble association and to rise from the unending backlash of public criticism,” he added.

The chairman of Effurun NBA, Oghenero Okoro expressed appreciation to the national body for the creation of the branch, claiming that the Effurun Judicial Division is the busiest in the entire state.

He therefore appealed to the Chief Judge of the state to create more courts for the area to reduce the workload of judges in the division.

The chairman of the occasion, Chief Efe Akpofure SAN pledged the commitment of lawyers in the branch to the sustenance of the ethics, nobility and integrity of the legal profession.

Story by Joe Ogbodu