NJC Asks IG To Probe Attack On Ekiti Judges

NJC Asks IG To Probe Attack On Ekiti Judges

Posted by Sylvester on Saturday, October 4, 2014 0

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According to New Telegraph the National Judicial Council (NJC) yesterday demanded a probe into the recent attacks on judges in Ekiti State.

Suleiman, IG of Police

The NJC, at the end of an emergency meeting in Abuja, condemned the attacks on the judiciary and judicial officers in general nationwide and asked the acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, to carry out a thorough probe into the attacks on Justices John Adeyeye and Olusegun Oguyemi at the High Court Complex, Ado-Ekiti, to ensure that the culprits and their sponsors are brought to book.

The NJC push for a probe of the incident just as the All Progressives Congress (APC) asked that the state Governor elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, whom it accused of masterminding the attacks on the judges, should be arrested and prosecuted. Following the assault on Justice Adeyeye, Fayose was said to have petitioned the NJC to investigate the activities of the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ayodeji Daramola. Justice Daramola had in turn forwarded a petition against Fayose, accusing him of being the mastermind of the assault on Justice Adeyeye who was reportedly beaten by some people whom Justice Daramola in his petition said acted on the orders of Fayose.

The council, in a statement by its acting Director of Information, Soji Oye, also requested the IG to urgently provide adequate security to judicial officers and the judiciary in Ekiti State. The NJC urged the IG to personally lead investigation into the attacks on Justices Adeyeye and Ogunyemi, some members of staff of the court and the vandalism of property of the High Court of Justice, Ado-Ekiti and bring the culprits to justice.

It, however, assured the people that all petitions forwarded by all parties to the council on the matter are being looked into. Also reacting to the attack on the judges, the APC reiterated its earlier call for the arrest and prosecution of Fayose for allegedly leading thugs to attack the judges on September 25. The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, warned that failure to act decisively now over the matter would spell danger for judges and democracy.

The party said the issue of the security of judges and the unfettered administrative of justice transcends politics, hence no politician, no matter his status, must be allowed to go scot-free after attacking judges. It said any delay in taking action would mean that Fayose, who is billed to assume office in the next two weeks, would be conferred with immunity that would stop him from facing justice for “egregious contempt of court.”

APC also called on the Abba to punish the policemen who stood idly by as thugs were attacking judges, lawyers, litigants and others, saying the police must always carry out their constitutional duties, no matter which politician is flouting the law. The party urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to take the lead in ensuring that those behind the attack on Ekiti judges are made to face the full wrath of the law, irrespective of their status.