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  • NJC to Onnoghen, Ag. CJN: defend yourselves in 7 days

    Lawyers hailed yesterday the action of the National Judicial Council (NJC) on the crisis of integrity rocking the Judiciary.

    The NJC at  its emergency meeting in Abuja issued suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen and Acting CJN Tanko Muhammad a seven-day deadline to respond to petitions pending against them.

    The petition against Justice Onnoghen relates to the allegation of violation of the code of conduct for public officers in relation to his alleged failure to declare his assets.

    Justice Muhammad is alleged to have engaged in misconduct in allowing himself to be sworn in in a manner that breached  law, tradition and constitutional provisions.

    NJC’s spokesman Soji Oye said in a statement that the council also elected to refer the petition against Code of Conduct (CCT) Chairman Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).

    It was learnt that Justice Onnoghen and Justice Muhammad were not at the meeting, which was chaired by retired Court of Appeal President Umaru Abdullahi.

    The case against Umar, The Nation learnt, relates to his alleged abuse of judicial authority or breach of constitutional provisions by the orders he made in the course of proceedings in the charge against the suspended CJN.

    Read also: Presidency uncovers plans to scuttle elections, says NSA

    In one of such orders, the CCT rejected to be bound by High Courts orders directing it to stay proceedings.

    Another is the ex-parte order the CCT made on which President Muhammadu Buhari claimed to have relied in suspended Onnoghen and inaugurating Justice Muhammad in acting capacity.

    It was also learnt that the NJC chose to abridge the usual 14 days response time to seven, in view of the weighty issues involved in the petitions.

    The NJC is to reconvene on February 11.

    “I’m happy with the development. NJC and the Judiciary will work together to strengthen our judicial system,” rights activist and lawyer Monday Ubani said.

    The statement reads: “The National Judicial Council held an Emergency Meeting today and considered four (4) petitions filed at its Secretariat.  The petitions are:

    “Petition against Hon. Mr. Justice W.S.N. Onnoghen, GCON by Zikhrillahi Ibrahim of Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civil Education;

    “Petition against Hon. Mr. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, CFR by Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative;

    “Petition against Hon. Mr. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, CFR by Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, OON; and

    “Petition against Hon. Danladi Yakubu Umar, Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal by Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative.

    “Council referred the petition against Hon. Danladi Yakubu Umar to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) which is the appropriate constitutional body empowered to deal with it.

    “In line with its procedure, Council also forwarded the petitions against Hon. Justices W.S.N. Onnoghen, GCON and I. T. Muhammad, CFR to them for their responses.

    “In view of the gravity of the matters involved, Council abridged the usual response period from fourteen (14) to seven (7) working days for the Hon. Justices to respond.

    “Hon. Mr. Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen, GCON and Hon. Mr. Justice I.T. Muhammad, CFR recused themselves from the meeting.  Consequently, Council elected Hon. Mr. Justice Umaru Abdullahi, CON, former President of the Court of Appeal, as Interim Chairman to preside over the meeting.

    “Council will reconvene on the 11th February, 2019.”

  • Updated: NJC queries Onnoghen, Muhammad

    The National Judicial Council (NJC) rose from its emergency meeting a moment ago with a decision to allow suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the acting CJN, Justices Walter Onnoghen and Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad seven days to respond to petitions pending against them.

    The petition against Onnoghen relates to the allegation of violation of the code of conduct for public officers in relation to his alleged failure to declare his assets.

    The petition against Muhammad relates to his alleged misconduct in allowing himself to be sworn-in in manner that breach existing law, tradition and constitutional provisions.

    NJC’s Director, Information Soji Oye, said, in a statement that the council also elected to refer petition against CCT Chairman, Danladi Yakubu Umar to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).

    It was learnt that Onnoghen and Muhammad were absent from the meeting, which was eventually chaired by retired Court of Appeal President, Umaru Abdulahi.

    The case against Umar, The Nation learnt, relates to his alleged abuse of judicial authority of breach of constitutional provisions by the orders he made in the course of proceedings in the charge against the suspended CJN.

    One of such orders is where the CCT rejected to be bound by orders given by High Courts, directing it to stay proceedings.

    Another is the ex-parte order the CCT made, on which President Muhammadu Buhari claimed to have relied in suspended Onnoghen and inaugurated Muhammad in acting capacity.

    It was also learnt that the NJC chose to abridge the usual 14 response time to seven, in view of the weighty issues involved in the petitions against Onnoghen and Muhammad.

    NJC adjourned to reconvene on February, 11 this year.

    Read Also; Onnoghen: NJC members in move to save Judiciary

    The statement reads: “The National Judicial Council held an Emergency Meeting today and considered four (4) petitions filed at its Secretariat. The petitions are:

    “Petition against Hon. Mr. Justice W.S.N. Onnoghen, GCON by Zikhrillahi Ibrahim of Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civil Education;

    “Petition against Hon. Mr. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, CFR by Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative;

    “Petition against Hon. Mr. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, CFR by Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, OON; and

    “Petition against Hon. Danladi Yakubu Umar, Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal by Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative.

    “Council referred the petition against Hon. Danladi Yakubu Umar to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) which is the appropriate constitutional body empowered to deal with it.

    “In line with its procedure, Council also forwarded the petitions against Hon. Justices W.S.N. Onnoghen, GCON and I. T. Muhammad, CFR to them for their responses.

    “In view of the gravity of the matters involved, Council abridged the usual response period from fourteen (14) to seven (7) working days for the Hon. Justices to respond.

    “Hon. Mr. Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen, GCON and Hon. Mr. Justice I.T. Muhammad, CFR recused themselves from the meeting. Consequently, Council elected Hon. Mr. Justice Umaru Abdullahi, CON, former President of the Court of Appeal as Interim Chairman to preside over the meeting.

    “Council will reconvene on the 11th February, 2019.”

     

     

  • SAN urges NJC to tackle delays through court digitalisation

    A SENIOR Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George, has urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to prioritise the digitalisation of courts to reduce delays.

    On his expectation of the judiciary in the new year, the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies President said the issue of judicial independence and judges’ welfare also deserve priority attention.

    “Court digitalisation must be a matter of priority. Locally developed software for e-recording of courts should be deployed. This will enhance speedy dispensation of justice as judges can have access to e-recorded proceedings both audio and video.

    “It will also help to address the problem associated with de-novo (repeat) trials following transfer of judges, death, promotion or retirement,” Akinseye-George said.

    The SAN urged the NJC to sustain its focus on judicial discipline, integrity, accountability and productivity in 2019, and to keep disclosing steps taken to maintain zero-tolerance for judicial corruption.

    On judges’ welfare, Akinseye-George said: “The NJC needs to take more seriously, the issue of welfare of judges. Salary should be reviewed upwards. Lump sum payments should be made to cushion the effect of inflation and plummeting value of the naira.

    “Actualising financial autonomy for the judiciary at the state level should be a matter of priority. The NJC should enlist the support of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to blacklist any state that fails to implement the financial autonomy for the judiciary at the state level.

    “2019 should be a year when the judiciary should not allow the politicians to mess it up. All hands must be on deck to protect the judiciary at all levels from the corrosive influence of politicians and money bags.

    “The CJN has made history for his valiant efforts to protect and strengthen the independence of the judiciary. The NBA and the Body of Senior Advocates must support the efforts of the CJN.”

    On his assessment of the Judiciary’s performance last year, the professor of law, whose centre is equipping two pilot courts with Q-soft Denovo e-recording system said its image is gradually being restored.

    “The judgment of the Court of Appeal in Nganjiwa is a gigantic step in the right direction. So also is Olisa Metuh v. FRN.

    “The Federal High Court has also rightly issued new practice directions for implementing the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). Lagos State and others should follow the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court and the Federal High Court in this respect.

    “The judiciary remains the hope of democracy in this country. The executive and legislative arms are so messed up that unless the judiciary stands firm, we can as well say ‘bye bye’ to democracy and human rights. Let’s make 2019 the year of the judiciary,” he added.

     

  • Kwara APC reports judge to NJC

    •Party accuses PDP of PVC-buying

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State yesterday said it had reported the alleged misdemeanour of Justice T. S. Umar of the State High Court to the National Judicial Commission (NJC).

    Justice Umar, on Wednesday, said the dissolution of the APC executives, led by Ishola Balogun-Fulani, by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party was illegal, null and void.

    He also declared the Balogun-Fulani exco with loyalists of Senate President Bukola Saraki as the authentic APC executives in the state.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Ilorin, the state capital, APC State Chairman Bashir Bolarinwa said the conduct of Justice Umar during the trial smacked of alleged partisanship.

    He said: “Since the commencement of the case in July, Ishola Balogun-Fulani and his cohorts have always boasted to whoever cared to listen that the Kwara State Judiciary is in the pocket and full grip and control of one man.

    “I wish to intimate you that every conduct of Justice T. S. Umar that made the judgment no news has been documented and forwarded by our lawyers to the Chief Judge of Nigeria (CJN) as the chairman of the National Judicial Commission (NJC) and copied to the Chief Judge (CJ) of the state.

    “As believers in the rule of law and ability of the judiciary to dispense justice without fear or favour and in the best tradition of incorruptible judiciary, we refused to take their boisterous attitude and utterances as mere psychological ego massaging.

    “Alas, the developments that culminated in the judgment and the conduct of Justice T. S. Umar in the course of trial have proved to us that our absolute belief in the impartiality and absolute integrity of every judicial officer is grossly misplaced in the instance case.

    “It is, therefore, not surprising that since Friday, when the case was adjourned till Wednesday for judgment, Balogun-Fulani and his cohorts as well as their sponsors have been assuring their fellow Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members that their aim to weaken the train of change in the state will start to materialise as judgment in their favour is a forgone deal and conclusion.”

     

  • PDP urges NJC to probe relocation of Osun election tribunal

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to probe the sudden relocation of the sitting of the Osun Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal to Abuja.

    In a statement yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, by its State Chairman Soji Adagunodo, the party said the tribunal was relocated without informing counsel to the petitioner.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in a statement on Saturday in Osogbo, the tribunal’s Secretary, Mr Adamu Aliyu, announced the relocation of its sitting to Abuja.

    The reason for the relocation of the sittings of the three-man panel to Abuja was not stated in the notice dated November 9.

    “This is to inform the general public that the sitting of the Osun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has been relocated from High Court of Justice Complex, Osogbo, to FCT High Court 24, Apo, Abuja,” the statement said.

    Contacted, Adamu told NAN that both parties in the matter asked the tribunal to relocate to Abuja for security reasons.

    He said: “Yes, it is true that the tribunal has been relocated to Abuja. Both parties (the All Progressives Congress, APC, and PDP) requested that the tribunal be relocated to Abuja for security reason.”

    But the PDP said the relocation of the tribunal was another sign that there was a desperate and evil plan by some forces to implement a pre-written script on the proceedings and outcome of its petition before the tribunal.

    Adagunodo said the decision to relocate the sitting was without any justifiable reason.

    The chairman added that there had been no reports that could have necessitated the action.

    He said: “It is very probable that those who took the decision without consultation with counsel of the petitioners did so partly to prevent the good people of Osun State from observing the proceedings of the tribunal.

    “We want to remind honourable members of the tribunal of the dictum of the eminent jurist Niki Tobi, JSC, that the true test of a fair hearing is the impression of a reasonable person who was present at the trial, whether from his observation justice has been done.

    “On our part as a party, we will continue to invite the attention of the National Judicial Council (NJC), leaders of thought and the international community to the happenings in Osun State and state what these portend for the 2019 general elections.

    “We are hopeful that the concerned persons and authorities will act speedily on this matter and restore the hope of the common man in Osun State in the judicial process.”

    Also, the Osun State chapter of the APC said it would abide by the decision to relocate the governorship Election Petitions Tribunal as long as it does not violate any law of the land.

    A statement yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, by its Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Kunle Oyatomi, said: “We in the APC have no objection to the relocation of the state’s governorship Election Petition Tribunal to Abuja. It is a legal process permitted by the law of Nigeria. We support the movement, so long it dispenses justice fairly and without favour.

  • N2.9b debt: NJC clears outstanding pension arrears

    THE National Judicial Council (NJC) has offset “99 per cent” of the N2.9billion pension arrears it owed judicial workers across the country since 2007.

    NJC Executive Secretary Ahmed Gambo Saleh said it had also curbed the menace of ghost pensioners in the scheme by ensuring that pensioners sign an indemnity bond.

    Saleh spoke at the Ikeja High Court in Lagos on Saturday during a verification exercise for NJC workers in the state.

    He said: “The NJC took over the administration of pension for retired judiciary officers, otherwise known as the defined benefit scheme in the year 2007.

    “The exercise is being handled by the office of the Head of Service of the federation.

    “By coming into force with the Pension and Administration Judicial Officers Act 2007, the NJC was saddled with the responsibility of administrating same.

    “In 2013, the National Pension Commission also collapsed the administration of accrued benefits of retired federal judiciary staff to the NJC.

    “These two developments forced a number of challenges to the council, in the sense that apart from taking over the administration of the pension, the council also inherited a huge sum of money in terms of arrears for the entire judicial officers and federal judiciary staff in the tune of N2.6 billion.”

    Saleh added: “It is, however, gratifying today for me to say that the council has so far settled 99 per cent of its arrears. Not only that, the council is also up-to-date in terms of monthly pension to all judiciary pensioners; having paid the pension for the month of October, a few days ago.

    “It is also pertinent to mention that, as of today, our retired federal judiciary officers and staff received their gratuities not a minute later in the day of their retirements.”

    A former Lagos State Chief Judge Justice Inumidun Akande hailed the scheme.

    “It was very nice and professionally done. We haven’t been having any problems. I have been coming here since I retired in 2012. They’ve been paying our pension; in fact, they pay quicker than even Lagos State. I score the exercise an A,” Justice Akande said.

    Also, a former Lagos State Assistant Chief Registrar, who retired in 2003, Adisa Ayodele Sule, said: “I retired in 2003 and they don’t owe me.”

  • NJC asks Buhari to ignore opposition to Supreme Court nominee

    THE National Judicial Council (NJC) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore opposition to its nomination of Court of Appeal’s Justice Uwani Abba-Aji for elevation to the Supreme Court.

    A group, the Civic Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), had urged the President not to forward Justice Abba-Aji’s name to the Senate for confirmation, otherwise it would challenge the action in court.

    NJC, in a statement by its Director, (Information), Soji Oye, yesterday said there was no pending corruption case against Justice Abba-Aji that would warrant the opposition by CSNAC.

    The statement reads: “In as much as the NJC would not join issues with anyone on this matter, it is necessary to put the records straight.

    “Members of the public would recall that sequel to the request of the Attorney-General of the Federation, in 2016, Justice Abba-Aji and seven other judicial officers were directed by the council to recuse themselves from performing their judicial functions pending their investigation by security agency.

    “However, Justice Abba-Aji and five others were recalled as only three out of the judicial officers then under investigations were arraigned in court.

    “For the avoidance of doubt,  Justice Abba-Aji has since been sitting in court and no investigation agency has filed any new allegation against His Lordship. In fact, his international passport had been returned to him and he had been travelling outside the country without any hindrance, signalling that the investigation agencies have nothing new against His Lordship.

    “The law of the land remains that no one is to be punished, except for an offence established by due process of law.

    “The NJC hereby re-affirms its commitment to zero-tolerance for corruption, which is the stand of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the Council, Hon. Mr. Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen.”

  • NJC recommends dismissal of Justices Ofili-Ajumogobia, Agbadu-Fishim

    •Council directs judge to refund two years’ pay •Petitions against Kafarati, others dismissed

    THE National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the dismal of two judges to President Muhammadu Buhari, having found them guilty of misconduct.

    The judges are Justices Rita N. Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court and James T. Agbadu-Fishim of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

    This is the first time, in recent time that the NJC would recommend the dismissal of an erring judge. Past recommendations had always been for compulsory retirement.

    Rising from its 87th meeting held on Wednesday, the NJC also directed Justice Joshua E. Ikede of the Delta State High Court to refund what he earned as salary and other entitlements since October 2016.

    The NJC said it found that Justice Ikede altered his age. It rejected the retirement letter the judge sent to it on October 1.

    NJC’s Director of Information Soji Oye said in a statement yesterday that the investigation of Justices Ofili-Ajumogobia and Agbadu-Fishim was based on petitions written against them by the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

    The NJC said the petitioner alleged that Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia is a Director/Chief Executive Officer and sole signatory to Nigel and Colive Company contrary to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.

    It said there was also allegation that several personalities, individuals, government officials and business partners lodged funds into various accounts belonging to the judge.

    The NJC said it was also alleged that there was an ex-parte communication between the judge and Mr. Godwin Oblah, SAN, during the pendency of his matter before the judge.

    The council said it could not consider other allegations in the petition because they are already before a court where the judge is standing trial. It left those matters for the trial to take its legal course.

    Oye said Justice Agbadu-Fishim “was also recommended for removal by dismissal from office sequel to the findings of the council on the allegations contained in another petition by the Acting Chairman of EFCC alleging that the judge received various sums of money from litigants and lawyers that had cases before him, and some influential Nigerians, under the false pretence that he was bereaved or that there was delay in the payment of his salary.

    “This is contrary to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “In the interim, the council, in exercise of its disciplinary powers under paragraph 21 (d) of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, has suspended Justices R. N. Ofili-Ajumogobia and James T. Agbadu-Fishim with immediate effect pending their removal from office by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    On Justice Ikede, Oye said: “Council rejected the letter of voluntary retirement, purported to be with effect from October 1, 2018, submitted to it by Hon. Mr. Justice Joshua E. Ikede of the Delta State High Court.

    “This followed the findings on an allegation of falsification of age contained in a petition written by Zik Gbemre, National Co-ordinator of Niger Delta Peace Coalition. Council found that the Hon. Judge ought to have retired since October, 2016.

    “Consequently, it backdated his retirement to 2016 and recommended to the Government of Delta State to deduct from the retirement benefits of the judge, all salaries received by him from October, 2016 till date and remit it to NJC, which pays salaries of all judicial officers in the federation.

    “Council also decided to issue a letter of advice to Hon. Mr. Justice K. C. Nwakpa of High Court of Abia State to guard against unwarranted utterances in matters before him.

    “This was as a result of a complaint to the council by one Princewill Ukegbu.”

    It added: “Council considered the reports of various investigation committees and dismissed the petitions written against Hon. Mr. Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory; Hon. Mr. Justice E. O. Osinuga of the High Court of Ogun State, and Hon. Mr. Justice E. O. Ononeze-Madu of the High Court of Imo State.

    “The petition by Wema Bank against Hon. Mr. Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court was dismissed because the allegation of misconduct was not established.

    “The judge’s handling of the related matter did not amount to the alleged misconduct.”

    On the petition on allegation of inducement, bias and alteration of ruling written by David Olawepo Efunwape against Justice E. O. Osinuga of High Court, Ogun State, the NJC said it was found to be false.

    The statement said: “Council, therefore, decided to report David Olawepo Efunwape, Esq., to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for appropriate sanctions for making false allegations against a judge.

    The petition written by Eugene Okechukwu Dibiagwu against Justice E. O. Ononeze Madu was dismissed by the council for lack of merit.  The council warned the petitioner and asked him to apologise to the judge for the false allegation of inducement.

    New petitions written against 26 judicial officers from the Federal and state high courts were considered by council, after which it resolved to empanel four committees to investigate.

    The statement said: “The remaining petitions were summarily dismissed for obvious and manifest lack of merit, being subjudice, concerning administrative matters, or that such petitions were matters for appeal.”

     

  • NJC to probe oil firm’s petition against judge

    THE National Judicial Council (NJC) has said it would investigate a petition by a major petroleum importer, Petrocam Trading Nigeria Ltd, against Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

    NJC Chairman Chief Justice Walter  Onnoghen, in a May 21 letter to the firm, acknowledged receiving the petition.

    The petition is entitled: “Complaint against perceived abuse and reckless use of judicial powers to oppress and cause grievous damage to our business interest by Hon. Justice R. M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court.”

    Chief Justice Onnoghen wrote: “This is to acknowledge receipt of your petition dated May 7, 2018 on the above subject matter and to inform you that action is being taken, please.”

    Petrocam Trading Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Ilo and Petrocam Trading (PTY) Ltd South Africa are defendants in a suit.

    The oil firm, which is a supplier to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), said the judge made an ex-parte order on April 18 freezing its accounts.

    The company said the judge made six orders against it under the guise of mareva injunction, resulting in the freezing of its accounts in commercial banks without directing that the defendants be put on notice.

    “His Lordship proceeded to make the ex-parte orders pending the determination of the substantive suit even when a motion on notice was filed by the applicant and it was pending.

    “His Lordship did not even avert his mind to the fact that it was a writ of summons proceeding which may last for a long while…No undertaking was given as to damages in the event that the orders ought not to have been made.

    “In mareva injunction proceedings, unlike general proceedings, it is a mandatory requirement, because of the potential harm it may cause. His Lordship granted the orders ex-parte and failed to protect the defendants in any form,” the firm said.

    Petrocam said rather than adjourn for a brief period because of the far-reaching nature of the order, “His Lordship adjourned for seven weeks…for mention”.

    The firm had asked Chief Judge of the Federal High Court Justice Adamu Kafarati to transfer the case to another judge as the defendants no long had confidence in Justice Aikawa.

    The defendants had also filed an application before Justice Aikawa praying for an order referring the suit to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge.

    The firm was sued for allegedly being indebted to a bank.

  • NJC poise to stop pension fraud

    The Executive Secretary, National Judicial Council  ( NJC )Ahmed Saleh has disclosed that the council is determined to rid the it’s system of any form of irregularities as it has paid eighty per cent pension arrears to retirees of Federal Judiciary from 2013 to date.

    Saleh made this known on Tuesday, shortly after inspecting enrollment exercise for retirees of the federal judiciary in Kano, Katsina, Jigawa and Kaduna states respectively.

    According to him, payment of monthly pension and outstanding arrears has been one of his major priority since his assumption to office.

    “When I assumed office in 2017, I didn’t mince words, I made it clear that pension administration is one of my priority areas and as such all operational and structural frameworks must be put in place to ensure timely and prompt payment of monthly pension, clear outstanding arrears of pension owed, have a reliable and accurate data of pensioners and deployment of a robust platforms to detect and do away with ghost pensioners,”

    “The pension administration in NJC has recorded remarkable achievements since my assumption. These include introduction of E-monitoring solution to the accounting processes, -voucher, introduction of Direct Data Capture machine, computerised computation system and contributory pension module that will aid in minimizing errors or omissions in preparation of remittance to pension fund administrators,” Mr. Saleh revealed.

    Further more, he added that, the council has set up a data base centre for the Pension department and organised series of pre-retirement training for the staff of federal judiciary with the sole aim of preparing them for life after service.

    The council has also established a toll-free complaint line where pensioners can lodge in their complaints in order to a avoid duplications by blocking any loopholes against fraudulent acts.

    Responding to the legal backing of handling pension by the commission, Saleh said the administration of pension of federal judicial officers was transferred to the National Judicial Council via the Pension Rights of Federal judicial officer ( administration of pension) Act 2007.

    He explained that with the enactment of the act, the NJC was mandated to cater for funding of it’s pension costs through budgetary process which hitherto was being handled by the office of the head of civil service of the federation and that challenges such as inadequate funding and misappropriation of pension funds to delays in payment of benefits, lack of authentic records of pensioners, existence of ghost pensioners among others have been taken care of.

    “In 2013, the National pension commission also transferred the administration of accrued rights of all federal judiciary staff to the NJC and thereby making it the responsibility of NJC to source the funding of all accrued rights of federal judiciary staff.

    “Consequent upon this His Lordship, the Chief Justice of Nigeria Walter Ononghen approved the upgrading of the pension unit to a full fledged department,” the Executive Secretary revealed.

    An enrollee from Court of Appeal Kaduna, Asabe Bawa expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise.