he Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has asked
judges who are currently being investigated by
the Department of State Services (DSS) over
allegations of corruption to suspend sitting
and proceed on compulsory suspension.
judges who are currently being investigated by
the Department of State Services (DSS) over
allegations of corruption to suspend sitting
and proceed on compulsory suspension.
NBA President, Abubakar Mahmud (SAN), said
this at a valedictory court session for the
retiring Justice Sotonye Denton-West of the
Court of Appeal yesterday October 20th.
According to Mahmud, the suspension of the
judges will help save the image of the
judiciary.
this at a valedictory court session for the
retiring Justice Sotonye Denton-West of the
Court of Appeal yesterday October 20th.
According to Mahmud, the suspension of the
judges will help save the image of the
judiciary.
“In the interim, however, particularly having
regards to what appears to ongoing
accusations and counter accusations between
some of the judges and other personalities or
agencies, it appears to the NBA that it is
extremely important that the NJC takes very
urgent steps to safeguard the public image
and sanctity of the courts. We therefore
strongly recommend that, without prejudice to
the innocence or otherwise of the Judges
involved in the ongoing investigations, they
should be required to recuse themselves from
further judicial functions or required to
proceed on compulsory leave until their
innocence is fully and completely established
or until the conclusion of all judicial or
disciplinary proceedings. We believe this will
be necessary in order to protect the sanctity
and integrity of judicial processes that may
involve the judges concerned and safeguard
the public image of the institution,” Mahmud
said.
regards to what appears to ongoing
accusations and counter accusations between
some of the judges and other personalities or
agencies, it appears to the NBA that it is
extremely important that the NJC takes very
urgent steps to safeguard the public image
and sanctity of the courts. We therefore
strongly recommend that, without prejudice to
the innocence or otherwise of the Judges
involved in the ongoing investigations, they
should be required to recuse themselves from
further judicial functions or required to
proceed on compulsory leave until their
innocence is fully and completely established
or until the conclusion of all judicial or
disciplinary proceedings. We believe this will
be necessary in order to protect the sanctity
and integrity of judicial processes that may
involve the judges concerned and safeguard
the public image of the institution,” Mahmud
said.
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