BY: News Peddlers
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At its 101st meeting on Thursday, the National Judicial Council, chaired by Hon. Justice Kayode Ariwoola, recommended the immediate retirement of Hon. Justice F. B. Andetur, Chief Judge of Taraba State High Court.
Hon. 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, that "His Lordship 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".
According to a statement issued by Soji Oye, Esq, NJC Director of Information, after deliberation, the Council determined that the Hon. Chief Judge violated the provisions of S.294(1) of the Constitution and thus recommended him for compulsory retirement with immediate effect to Taraba State Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku.
Hon. 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, that "His Lordship 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".
According to a statement issued by Soji Oye, Esq, NJC Director of Information, after deliberation, the Council determined that the Hon. Chief Judge violated the provisions of S.294(1) of the Constitution and thus recommended him for compulsory retirement with immediate effect to Taraba State Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku.
"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," according to the statement.
According to the statement, the preliminary complaints assessment committee's report reads as follows:
“Council 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 being 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.”
It further stated, “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, Hon. Justice Ikpambese Maurice Ahemba; CHIEF JUDGE, ADAMAWA STATE, Hon. Justice Hafsat Abdulrahman; CHIEF JUDGE, KWARA STATE, Hon. Justice Abiodun Ayodele Adebara; CHIEF JUDGE, OYO STATE, Hon. Justice Iyabo Subulade Yerima; GRAND KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, ADAMAWA STATE, Hon. Kadi Ibrahim Wakili Sudi; and PRESIDENT, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, ADAMAWA STATE, Hon. Justice Audu James Balami.
“FIVE (5) JUDGES, HIGH COURT, PLATEAU STATE: Charles Donglong, Ashahabu Suleiman Wase, Shikamma Kassam Sheltu, Mary Abah Izam and 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.”
(Sahara Reporters)