NJC warns judge, puts another on watch list

By Emmanuel Adeleke

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has issued a letter of warning to a judge and placed another  on “watch list”.

This was contained  in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by NJC’s  Director of Information, Soji Oye.

The judges are Justice Muawiyah Baba Idris of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and Justice M. M. Ladan of the  Kaduna State High Court.

Idris  was  placed on  NJC’s watch list for a  year while Ladan was issued a letter of warning.

“Hon. Justice Muawiyah Baba Idris of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja was issued a warning letter and placed on Council’s “Watch List” for a period of one year for signing the Writ of Possession for execution on the same day he delivered judgement in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/FT/36/19 between Sicons Nigeria Ltd V Nile Place Restaurant and Catering Services Ltd. The Suit was for recovery of demised property.

“Council agreed with the findings of the Committee that investigated the Hon. Judge that his action was in contravention of Proviso to Order 27 Rule (16) (b) High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Civil Procedure Rules 2018 and Order 4 (1) and (2) of the Judgement Enforcement Rules 2004.

“Council also resolved to issue a warning letter to Hon. Justice M. M. Ladan of the High Court of Kaduna State having found merit in the petition written against him in Suit No. KDH/KAD/1321/2018 between VTLS Inc. Vs Ahmadu Bello University.

“He signed the Writ of Attachment while the Garnishee Order Nisi was pending,” the statement read.

The NJC also recommended the appointment of six heads of court and nine judicial officers for the Federal and State High Courts, Sharia Court, and Customary Court of Appeal.