Fayose’s case to go on, says NJC

Members of the National Judicial Council (NJC) yesterday condemned attacks on judges in Ekiti State.

The members faulted the Governor-elect, Mr. Ayo Fayose, for not controlling his supporters.

The Council also mandated President of the Court of Appeal Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa to relocate the Ekiti Election Petition Tribunal to Abuja if the situation in the state does not guarantee security of its members.

The NJC directed that all courts in Ekiti State be reopened  and mandated the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, to provide adequate security for all judges in the state.

With the development, Justice Isaac Ogunyemi, who is handling the ineligibility case against Fayose will sit unhindered.

The NJC asked the IGP to unmask the thugs who assaulted judges and bring them to trial immediately.

It was gathered that all the NJC members were unhappy that thugs loyal to Fayose assaulted judges.

A source said: “Technically, the Ekiti High Court hearing the application on Fayose’s ineligibility will continue to sit.

“By its tradition and precedents, the Council  would not interfere in a judicial process which has to do with purely legal issues. That case will run its full cycle because there are still appellate courts, up to the Supreme Court, for redress.

“ The NJC only mandated the IGP to provide adequate security for all judges in Ekiti State and all judicial workers irrespective of the cases they are handling.

“We also resolved that the IGP should investigate the assault on judges in the state and bring all those behind it whether supporters or thugs to justice.”

Asked why the NJC did not provide details in its statement, another NJC member added: “This is a case involving politicians. We do not want to be seen as biased in any manner.”

The NJC’s resolutions at its emergency meeting presided over by Chairman Justice Aloma Mukhtar, signed by NJC’s Acting Director, Information, Soji Oye said: “Following the recent unfortunate and worrisome incidents in Ekiti State Judiciary, particularly in the High Court Complex, Ado-Ekiti, the National Judicial Council held an emergency meeting on October 2, 2014 under the Chairmanship of Justice Aloma Mukhtar, and considered the various complaints and petitions forwarded to it.

 “At the end of the Meeting, Council decided as follows:

•In very strong terms condemned the attacks on the Judiciary and Judicial Officers in general across the country and in particular, the one carried out in High Court complex, Ado-Ekiti on 22nd and 25th September, 2014.

•Requested the Inspector-General of Police to take over and investigate the alleged attacks on Hon. Justices John Adeyeye and Isaac Olusegun Ogunyemi, some members of staff of the Court and vandalisation of property of the High Court of Justice, Ado-Ekiti and bring the culprits to justice.

•Requested the Inspector-General of Police as a matter of urgency to provide adequate security to Judicial Officers and the Judiciary in Ekiti State.

•All petitions forwarded by all parties to the council on the matter are being looked into.”

The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, said yesterday that the continuous closure of Ekiti state courts endangered democracy and rule of law.

Its chairman Yinka Farounbi stated this while reviewing a three-day fact finding mission to the state following attacks on some judges of the State High Court.

The association urged Ekiti Chief Judge Chief Judge Justice Adebisi. Daramola to re-open the courts, since substantial peace and normalcy have now returned to the state capital.

The NBA chairman held Fayose  liable for the mayhem and physical assault on Justice J. O Adeyeye and others last week.

The Ikeja NBA chairman said the three-day fact finding mission to the state between September 28 and 30, indicated that Mr Fayose  “did not  stop” his supporters from assaulting the judges.

According to Farounbi, the PDP governor-elect  watched his supporters physically assaulting the judge without any attempt to stop them.

“Hon. Justice Adeyeye was indeed assaulted with fist blows, whips and kicks by about 20 people who were with the governor-elect, as he was  passing by the former’s court.

 “The assault on the judicial officer happened when the judge left his Chamber and went over to Mr.Ayo Fayose, asking him to control his noisy and unruly followers. This led to an argument between the duo and the assault on the judge then took place. The governor-elect ‘did not stop his followers”, he noted.

“Those that may be found to have participated in the desecration of Ekiti judiciary should be made to face the wrath of the law no matter highly placed,” he said.