15 Judges To Face NJC Panels Over Alleged Misconduct  

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has set up 15 probe panels to investigate allegations of gross misconduct brought against 15 judges of federal and state High Courts.

The panels are to determine the culpability of the judges in the various petitions filed against them by individuals and corporate bodies.

A statement by the NJC’s director of information, Mr Soji Oye yesteray in Abuja said  the decision was taken at the council’s 99th meeting presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

The decision, the statement said,  is sequel to the submission of recommendations of three Preliminary Complaint Assessment Committees which considered 66 petitions forwarded to them by the council from all over the federation.

However, the statement did not name judges to be probed, their divisions and specific nature of their alleged offences.

It however revealed that the council dismissed petitions against 51 judicial officers of the federal and state High Courts for either lack of merit, being subjudice or being matters for appeal or that the concerned Judge have retired from service.

The statement said the council was formally presented the reviewed judicial information technology policy which established the general requirements and responsibilities for the Nigerian Judiciary systems and information.