NJC To Take Position On Judges Arrest On Wednesday

The National Judicial Council will on Wednesday continue its emergency meeting to decide the position of the council on the raid on the judges  house last weekend and subsequently arresting two of the judges.

The Tuesday meeting was presided over by the   outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria and chairman of the council, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, and expected to end on Wednesday.

In the agenda of the meeting is also to consider and nominate to President Muhammed Buhari two candidates out of whom the president would appoint the next CJN.

Speaking with correspondents on the meeting, a source in the NJC said, “Don’t forget that the issue of the judges’ arrest was not the only item on the council’s agenda. There is also the issue of the appointment of the next CJN.

“The issues need a thorough consideration. So, members were unable to conclude and take positions on them today (Tuesday). The deliberations will be concluded tomorrow (Wednesday) and the council’s positions will be made known.”

It was learnt that the NJC originally scheduled the emergency meeting solely for the consideration of the list of CJN’s nominees forwarded to it last week by the Federal Judicial Service Commission.

But following the raid on the houses of some judicial officers by the men of the Department State Services over the weekend, it was learnt that the CJN, who is the chairman of both the NJC and FJSC, directed that the issue be included on the agenda of the scheduled emergency meeting.

The outgoing CJN, on Monday, broke his silence on the weekend’s raid on the houses and arrests of the judges, describing the operations as sad and regrettable.

Justice Mohammed spoke at the valedictory court session held in honour of a retiring Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Suleiman Galadima.

At the event, which held at the ceremonial courtroom of the Supreme Court in Abuja, the CJN urged Nigerians to be calm as the NJC would meet on Tuesday (yesterday) to take a position on the incident.

He said, “My lords, invited guests, ladies and gentlemen; not to detract from this occasion, it is, indeed, very saddening and deeply regrettable, the distressing and unfortunate incident which occurred on Friday, October 7 and Saturday, October 8, 2016.

“However, I must ask all Nigerians to remain calm and prayerful as an emergency meeting of the National Judicial Council, which will take place tomorrow (Tuesday), will comprehensively look into the matter.

“Furthermore, I must express my sincere appreciation to the executive of the Nigerian Bar Association ably led by the President, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), and, indeed, all the members of the legal profession for their prompt action and continued support.”