NJC approves compulsory retirement of Justice F.B Andetur, appointment of others

*CJN  Justice Kayode Ariwoola The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the compulsory retirement of the Chief Judge of Taraba Sta...

*CJN  Justice Kayode Ariwoola

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the compulsory retirement of the Chief Judge of Taraba State High Court, Justice F.B. Andetur with immediate effect.

The decision to retire Justice Andetur was taken at the 101st  meeting  of the council which took place on March 26, 2023 was  under the Chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kayode Ariwoola, GCON.

Justice Andetur was recommended for compulsory retirement following the findings of an Investigation Committee to a petition written against him by Senator Muhammed Sanusi Dagash.

Senator Dagash had alleged that Justice Andetur suppressed judgement by failing to deliver judgement in Suit No: TRSJ/134/17: Mallam Kassim Yahaya Ahmad Vs Shittu Wurmo & Shuwari Farms Limited 30 months after adoption of final addresses by the parties.

The Council after deliberation found that the  Chief Judge breached the provisions of S.294(1) of the Constitution and therefore recommended him for compulsory retirement with immediate effect to Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku of Taraba State.

In the interim, the Council in exercise of its disciplinary powers under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, is suspending Hon. Justice Andetur from office pending his compulsory retirement. He is to hand over to the next most senior Judge in the State.

REPORT OF THE PRELIMINARY COMPLAINTS ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE:

Council also considered the report of one of its Complaints Assessment Committees and agreed with the Committee’s recommendation to empanel four Committees to further investigate four of the seven petitions forwarded to it, and dismissed three others.

One of the three, was dismissed for beings subjudice and the remaining two were dismissed because the Judicial Officers had retired from service, and by virtue of Rule 18(2) (h) of the National Judicial Council Judicial Discipline Regulations 2017, the Respondent Judicial Officers are no longer under the disciplinary control of the Council.

INTERVIEW COMMITTEE:

Similarly, Council considered the list of candidates presented by its Interview Committee and at the end of deliberation, recommended the appointment of six Heads of Court and five Judges of Plateau State High Court as follows:

CHIEF JUDGE, BENUE STATE

i) Justice Ikpambese Maurice Ahemba

 

CHIEF JUDGE, ADAMAWA STATE

i) Justice Hafsat Abdulrahman

 

CHIEF JUDGE, KWARA STATE

Justice Abiodun Ayodele Adebara

CHIEF JUDGE, OYO STATE

i) Justice Iyabo Subulade Yerima

GRAND KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, ADAMAWA STATE

Kadi Ibrahim Wakili Sudi

PRESIDENT, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, ADAMAWA STATE

Justice Audu James Balami

 

FIVE (5) JUDGES, HIGH COURT, PLATEAU STATE

i) Charles Donglong

ii) Ashahabu Suleiman Wase

iii) Shikamma Kassam Sheltu

iv) Mary Abah Izam and

vi) Nanle Titus Komak

 

NOTIFICATION OF RETIREMENTS AND DEATH:

The notification of retirements of eight Judicial Officers of the Federal and State Courts and notification of death of a Court of Appeal Justice were also received and noted by Council.