…Says, NJC to summon, probe three Judges for granting exparte orders
BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Tanko has directed Chief Judges (CJs) of State judiciary to put an end to indiscriminate granting of exparte orders, conflicting judgements or rulings occasioned by forum-shopping.
Justice Tanko specifically warned that the Judiciary will no longer condone indiscipline or allow any Judge to tarnish the image of the Judiciary.
The CJN, who handed down the warning on Monday when he met with the Chief Judges of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Rivers, Kebbi, Cross River, Jigawa, Anambra State and Imo States individually and collectively, warned them to desist from granting exparte orders especially on political matters, stressing that; “There must be an end to this nonsense”.
Justice Tanko specifically said that three of the Judges, who granted conflicting exparte orders have been invited to appear before the National Judicial Council to show cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against them for granting the conflicting exparte orders.
He pointedly warned the State Chief Judges to henceforth avoid unnecessary assumption of jurisdiction in matters with similar subject and parties already before another court.
He urged the CJs to 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.
Justice Tanko said; “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”.”
Justice Tanko also warned the CJs from appointing newly employed Judicial Officers as vacation Judges and assigning complex cases to inexperienced Judges.
The CJN who held marathon meetings with the seven invited Chief Judges (CJs) over the conflicting exparte orders, first met with each of the CJs separately during which he personally quizzed personally them for over an hour, before later reading a riot act at a joint session with all of them.
The CJN meeting with the CJs which commenced at 11:00am and lasted till 5:30 pm, witnessed a visibly angry CJN saying that; “a damage to one jurisdiction is a damage to all”.
In his words; “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”.
Justice Mohammed Tanko announced that all Heads of Courts will be invited to a meeting to reemphasize 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 therefore 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.
