The National Judicial Council, NJC, has recommended the compulsory retirement of the Grand Kadi of Yobe State, Shu’aibu Talba, and a judge of Osun State High Court, Justice Abdulkareem Abdulrasaq, over alleged age falsification.
The decision was taken at the 93rd meeting of the NJC which held virtually on December 16.
According to the NJC in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Information, Mr. Soji Oye, the council also recommended the appointment of 69 other judicial officers to enhance justice delivery.
The NJC said investigations were carried out on the cases of Talba and Abdulrasaq following petitions to the effect.
It said that while one Malam Zakar Adamu, Chairman, Movement for Justice in Nigeria, petitioned against Talba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Yomi Alliyu, wrote a petition against Abdulrasaq.
The statement reads in part: “Talba falsified his age on two occasions, i.e. from February 1, 1955 to August 27, 1955 and later to December 30, 1959.
“Findings revealed that he was supposed to have retired on February 1, 2020 by virtue of his declared date of birth of February 1, 1955.
“Council, after deliberation, decided to recommend His Lordship’s compulsory retirement to Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe.”
As a result of the development, the government of the state was asked to deduct all salaries received by Talba from February 1, 2020 till date from his gratuity and remit same to the NJC that pays salaries of all judicial officers in the country.
In the case of Abdulrasaq, who was said to have falsified his date of birth from September 3, 1955 to September 3, 1957, NJC said: “The Council, therefore, recommended His Lordship’s compulsory retirement to Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun with effect from September 3, 2020.
“It also requested the Osun Government to deduct from His Lordship’s gratuity; salaries received by him from September 3, 2020 and remit same to the NJC.”
While suspending Talba and Abdulrasaq from office pending the approval of its recommendation, NJC also also dismissed 18 petitions against 14 judicial officers for lacking in merit.
The officers are: Justices Simon A. Amobeda; Taiwo O. Taiwo; Nnamdi Dimgba and R. O. Dugbo Oghoghorie of the Federal High Court.
The petitions against Justices T. O. Uloho and Michael N. Obi of the Delta State High Court and that of the Lagos State High Court was Justice G. M. Onyeabo, were also dismissed.
Others are Justice A. I. Iyayi-Lamikanra, the Chief Judge, Justice A. U. Kingsley-Chuku and Justice J. N. Ukpugwnum of Rivers; Justice F. B. Andetur, the Chief Judge of Taraba High Court; Justice Comfort C. Ani of Enugu State High Court; Justice M. A. Pindiga of Gombe State High Court and Justice M. M. Umar of Kebbi High Court.
“Similarly, Council considered the report of the Interview Committee and recommended the appointment of 69 judicial officers as Heads of Court, Judges of High Court of States, Kadis of States/FCT Sharia Courts of Appeal and Judges of the Customary Courts of Appeal.
“It also received and approved the report of its Committee on Appointments, Promotion and Discipline which recommended the promotion of 70 staff of the NJC.
“It equally acknowledged the notifications of retirement of 12 judicial officers and notifications of death of three Judges of both federal and state courts,” the NJC stated.
