The National Judicial Council (NJC) has rejected an objection by the
immediate past Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT), now the Emir of Gummi, Justice Lawal Hassan Gummi, to
stop his probe over an alleged abuse of office while he was in
office.
At the resumed hearing of the petition against the former Chief Judge yesterday, his lawyer, Isreal Olorundare (SAN) who led Sunday Ameh (SAN) raised a preliminary objection challenging the competence of the NJC to probe him on the grounds that he had since resigned his office as a judicial officer since May 13, 2013. Gummi stated in his objection that having retired voluntarily and no longer a judicial officer and having paid three months salary into the Federal Treasury in lieu of notice, he could no longer appear before the NJC as the panel lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case against a retired judicial officer. He further stated that there were series of litigation still in respect of the matter pending before Abuja High Court and Federal High Court and added that the NJC did not share concurrent jurisdiction with a high court.
In its ruling however, the NJC panel over ruled the preliminary objection and held that it was a fact finding body set up before Gummi sent in his resignation letter dated May 13, 2013 notifying the NJC of his voluntary retirement which was received on 14th May. The panel further held that, “the act was allegedly committed before the 13th of May 2013 and not after, the preliminary objection was therefore overruled.”
Hearing on the petition against Justice Gummi continues today.
http://peoplesdailyng.com/former-fct-chief-judge-fails-to-stop-njc-probe/
At the resumed hearing of the petition against the former Chief Judge yesterday, his lawyer, Isreal Olorundare (SAN) who led Sunday Ameh (SAN) raised a preliminary objection challenging the competence of the NJC to probe him on the grounds that he had since resigned his office as a judicial officer since May 13, 2013. Gummi stated in his objection that having retired voluntarily and no longer a judicial officer and having paid three months salary into the Federal Treasury in lieu of notice, he could no longer appear before the NJC as the panel lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case against a retired judicial officer. He further stated that there were series of litigation still in respect of the matter pending before Abuja High Court and Federal High Court and added that the NJC did not share concurrent jurisdiction with a high court.
In its ruling however, the NJC panel over ruled the preliminary objection and held that it was a fact finding body set up before Gummi sent in his resignation letter dated May 13, 2013 notifying the NJC of his voluntary retirement which was received on 14th May. The panel further held that, “the act was allegedly committed before the 13th of May 2013 and not after, the preliminary objection was therefore overruled.”
Hearing on the petition against Justice Gummi continues today.
http://peoplesdailyng.com/former-fct-chief-judge-fails-to-stop-njc-probe/
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