EFCC moves against two CJs

Posted by admin EFCC Politics Sunday, September 16th, 2012

Three other judges probed over fat bank accounts

FIVE judges, two of them State Chief Judges, may have fallen foul of the law against corruption.

They are now under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly keeping fat accounts.

The anti-graft commission has already obtained the statements of accounts of the affected judges and how funds were wired into their accounts.

It was gathered yesterday that they may be arrested for questioning.

In addition to the chief judges, there are three judges of the Federal High Court.

A source familiar with the matter said: “This investigation has to do with alleged financial crimes committed by the judges, especially issues bordering on suspicious lodgements into their accounts.

“These slush funds were paid over time into their various accounts by litigants and their lobbyists to allegedly influence judgments.

“We have obtained the statements of accounts of the affected judges and our investigation teams have been analyzing ‘curious’ lodgements into the accounts.

‘So far, there are appreciable traces of suspicious lodgements in the accounts of these judges. We have requested the banks for further details of the transfer of these funds.”

Asked if the investigation was at the instance of the National Judicial Council (NJC), the source responded: “We are talking of financial crimes, not judicial matters, which are within the jurisdiction of the EFCC.

“Whatever our findings are the law will take its course. We are likely to arrest the affected judges soon for interrogation.”

The names of the judges were not disclosed.

Continuing, the source said: “We do not want to start revealing their identities in order not to jeopardize the on-going investigation. But we are closing in on them.”

It was learnt that immediately the judges are arrested, they might be suspended by the NJC pending the conclusion of their trial.

And in the event that they are found guilty, the NJC will be expected to invoke Section 292 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.

The section says: “A judicial officer shall not be removed from his office or appointment before his age of retirement except in the following circumstances- (a) in the case of (i) Chief Justice of Nigeria, President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and President, Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate.

(ii) Chief Judge of a State, Grand Kadi of a Sharia Court of Appeal or President of a Customary Court of Appeal of a state, by the Governor acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the House of Assembly of the state, praying that he be so removed for his inability to discharg the functions of his office or appointment (whether arising from infirmity of mind or of body) or for misconduct or contravention of the Code of Conduct.

“(b) in any case, other than those to which paragraph (a) of this subsection applies, by the President or, as the case may be, the Governor acting on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council that the judicial officer be so removed for his inability to discharge the functions of his office or appointment (whether arising from infirmity of mind or of body) or for misconduct or contravention of the Code of Conduct.”

-Nationwp_posts