The National Judicial Council, NJC, has set up panels to investigate allegations of misconduct levelled against 15 Judges.
The Council, which is headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, revealed that the judicial officers it okayed for probe, were from both Federal and State High Courts.
Though it did not disclose the identities of the judges, however, the National Judicial Council, in a statement it made available to newsmen on Friday, said it decided to investigate petitions against the judges, at its 99th meeting held on November 30 and December 1, 2022.
NigeriaCrime.com learned that the decision is sequel to the submission of recommendations of three Preliminary Complaint Assessment Committees which considered 66 petitions forwarded to them by the Council from all over the Federation.
However, the NJC, said it dismissed petitions that were lodged against 51 high court judges “for either lack of merit, being subjudice, or being matters for appeal or that the concerned Judge have retired from Service”.
“Council was formally presented with the reviewed Judicial Information Technology Policy which established the general requirements and responsibilities for the Nigerian Judiciary systems and information.
“The policy provides for the guidance of Courts and Judicial Bodies in protecting Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability (CIA) of judiciary. function and process. It also stipulates guidance for acceptable use of systems, services and technologies as well as provisions for secure storage of judicial data and recovery processes in the event of emergencies or distress.
“It further provides guidelines and incident management policies including Data Centre deployment and use policies.
“The Scope is intended for all Courts and Judicial Bodies in Nigeria including staff of the Nigerian judiciary, employed or contracted to any Judicial Body handling information that is generated, received, stored, transmitted, or printed.
“It encompasses all personal or Judiciary identifiable data held in their Courts and Judicial Bodies’ systems and processes including supporting mechanisms and technologies for managing such data at rest or in transit.
“All staff are expected to comply with the policy and associated standard protocols and procedures that have been put in place to support the document.
“The policy applies to all Courts unit and departments of all Judicial Bodies in the Nigerian Judiciary.
“Council noted appointments of Judicial Officers recommended for appointment at the last meeting who have been sworn–in as Judges of Federal and State High Courts.
“Reports from Standing and ad-hoc Committees of the Council were also presented at the Meeting as well as notifications of retirement of 16 Judges and notification of the death of a Judge from the Federal and State High Courts”, the statement further read.