The three Judges who granted conflicting exparte orders in the Anambra governorship tussle have been summoned to appear before the National Judicial Council (NJC) to show cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against them.
This decision was arrived at after the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Muhammad met with six states Chief Justices and that of FCT in Abuja on Monday.
In a statement by the Director, Information, NJC, Soji Oye, said the three judges were summoned to explain why they granted the conflicting exparte orders.
The states’ CJs who met with the CJN on Monday include that of Rivers, Kebbi, Cross River, Jigawa, Anambra, Imo and FCT, Abuja.
The statement stated that; “Each of the CJs was separately quizzed personally by the CJN for over an hour, before later reading a riot act in a joint session with all of them.”
A visibly angry CJN was reported to have stated that “a damage to one jurisdiction is a damage to all. We must therefore put an end to indiscriminate granting of exparte orders, conflicting judgements or rulings occasioned by forum-shopping. Your job as Heads of Court is a sacred one, and it therefore includes you vicariously taking the sins of others. There must be an end to this nonsense. You shall henceforth take absolute charge in assigning cases or matters, especially political personally. We shall make example with these three Judges and never shall we condone such act”.
The CJN warned the CJs to henceforth avoid unnecessary assumption of jurisdiction in matters with similar subject and parties already before another court, protect the court from lawyers that are out for forum shopping and work in tandem with all their Judges to salvage the image of the judiciary, the statement added.
“Hon. Dr Justice Muhammad also warned the CJs from making newly appointed Judicial Officers vacation Judges and assigning complex cases to inexperienced Judges. ”
The statement informed that all Heads of Courts will be invited to a meeting to reemphasized the need for the judiciary to be circumspect on the issue of granting exparte orders; and will also meet with the NBA leadership on the issue.
“The CJN advised all Heads of Court to be current on the development in the polity and the judgments delivered by Courts of various jurisdictions and to urgently issue practice direction to guide Judges in their various courts to avoid giving conflicting decisions.
“He concluded that the judiciary will no longer condone indiscipline or allow any Judge to tarnish the image of the Judiciary,” Oye added.
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