NJC to meet next week to investigate Chief Judges’ role in Kano Emirate crisis

The National Judicial Council (NJC) is to convene an emergency meeting next week to investigate the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, and his Kano State counterpart, Justice Dije Aboki, over their roles in the Kano emirate crisis.

This development comes as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has summoned both judges over the recent conflicting orders emanating from the courts under them.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) Director of Information, Mr. Soji Oye, made this known in a statement.

Oye said that the two heads of courts were to meet with the CJN today, May 30, 2024.

The statement reads: “Sequel to the conflicting judgments emanating from the Federal High Court and Kano State High Court of Justice on the chieftaincy matter in Kano State, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, National Judicial Council, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, has summoned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, and Chief Judge of Kano State High Court, Justice Dije Aboki, for an emergency meeting in his chambers tomorrow, Thursday, May 30, 2024.

“The meeting, which is a prelude to a whole-scale investigation by the National Judicial Council, is to enable the CJN to have a proper briefing on this very disturbing development by the two respective Chief Judges.

“NJC will conduct an emergency meeting next week, where the subject judges are likely to be invited and subjected to serious investigations.”

Persecondnews recalls that Justice S. A. Amobeda of the Federal High Court in Kano gave an order for the eviction of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II from the Kofar Kudu Palace, reinforcing the authority of the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero.

In a counter-order, Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu, the head of the Kano State High Court, issued an injunction to protect Muhammadu Sunusi and other key figures against evacuation and potential harassment by security agents.

Since the Kano State Government abolished the law establishing four new emirates in Kano metropolis last week, the government and security agencies have faced a flurry of conflicting court orders from both federal and state high courts.

In the same vein, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, issued a statement yesterday, pledging to hold accountable any lawyer found complicit in the matter by referring them to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for appropriate penalties.

He urged the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and the Chief Judge of the Kano State High Court to identify the judges involved and refer them to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for disciplinary action.