NJC Sanctions: Federal High Court redeploys five judges

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has ordered the immediate redeployment of five judges across various divisions of the court.

The move comes just weeks after the National Judicial Council (NJC) sanctioned several judges for various acts of judicial misconduct.

According to a statement released by the court on Friday, the redeployments affect the following judges:

Justice M. G. Umar has been moved from the Enugu Division to Abuja.

Justice Tijjani Garba Ringim was transferred from the Gombe Division to Yola.

Justice M. T. Segun-Bello, previously serving in Abakaliki, will now serve in Enugu.

Justice Bala Khalifa-Mohammed Usman was moved from Yola to the Awka Division.

Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed was transferred from Awka to Gombe.

The Director of Information at the court, Catherine Oby Christopher, said in the statement that the affected judges are expected to make every effort to conclude and deliver pending judgments in their current locations as quickly as possible.

She also noted that judges currently residing in Abakaliki and Katsina Divisions would be responsible for all existing and newly filed cases in those jurisdictions until further notice.

The court further clarified that Justice M. G. Umar, who has been redeployed to Abuja, will take over all cases previously assigned to Justice Inyang Ekwo, who was suspended by the NJC on April 30 and placed on a five-year watch list.

“Consequently, there is no need for litigants and/or counsel to apply to the Hon. Chief Judge for re-assignment of cases that have been pending before the Court,” the statement added.

Justice Ekwo’s suspension stemmed from complaints regarding Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/184/2021, in which he delivered a ruling without granting a hearing to the parties involved. The NJC found him guilty of violating Rules 3.1 and 3.3 of the 2016 Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Council also suspended Justice Aminu Baffa Aliyu of the Zamfara Division for one year without pay, citing misconduct in Suit No. FHC/GS/CS/30/2021 involving the Government of Zamfara State vs EFCC. He was also placed on a three-year watch list and barred from elevation within that period.

According to the NJC, “His Lordship granted an order restraining security agencies from carrying out their statutory duties and disregarded the doctrine of stare decisis.”