Tribune
The National Judicial Council (NJC), on Thursday, barred erring judges from being promoted and also issued them with warning letters.
Soji Oye, NJC Director of Information, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, said the decision was taken during the council’s two-day meeting in Abuja.
At the meeting chaired by the Deputy Chairman of the council, Justice Mary Peter-Odili, the members agreed with the recommendations of the investigation committee set up in September.
“The three judges of courts of concurrent jurisdiction who granted conflicting exparte orders in matters with same parties and subject matter were barred from promotion to higher bench for a period ranging from two to five years whenever they are due.
Even though there was no written petitions, allegations of corruption or impropriety against the judges, the council, nevertheless, initiated investigation pursuant to its inherent disciplinary powers under the constitution to unravel the circumstances that led to the spate of exparte orders granted by these courts of coordinate jurisdiction over matters bbearing same parties and subject matter.
“Justice Okogbule Gbasam of the High Court of Rivers State was barred from elevation to the higher bench for two years or whenever he is due, as he failed to exercise due diligence in granting the exparte order in Suit No: PHC/2183/CS/2021 between IBEALWUCHI EARNEST ALEX & 4 ORS AND PRINCE UCHE SECONDUS & ANOR, as there was no real urgency, in the circumstances of the matter, that would have required an exparte order.
Gbasam was also issued with a warning letter to be circumspect in granting such Exparte Orders in the future.
The council also resolved that Justice Nusirat Umar of the High Court of Kebbi State should be barred from elevation to higher bench for two years or whenever due, having found fundamental defects and non-compliance with the law in granting the exparte order in Suit No: KB/HC/M.71/2021 between YAHAYA USMAN & 2 ORS AND PRINCE UCHE SECONDUS & ANOR.
https://tribuneonlineng.com/njc-bars-three-judges-from-promotion-over-conflicting-exparte-orders-in-suits-involving-uche-secondus/
