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A lawyer, Prof Yemi Akinseye-George, has applauded the sanctioning of erring judicial officers by the National Judicial Council, NJC.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Friday, Prof Akinseye-George said the action is fair, objective and commendable.
He expressed hope that it could be sustained if members of the public and legal practitioners continue to commend and show interest in the activities of the NJC.
According to him, “To a very large extent, the perception of selectivity was quite rife. But since the commencement of the current judicial administration of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, judges and lawyers who have followed the process of discipline are predominantly of the view that the system appears to be objective, appears to be scientific and to follow due process giving everybody a chance.
“Petitioners are given a chance. Those whose petitions are frivolous are informed and when petitions are written, judges against whom petitions are written are given the opportunity to recommend on such petitions.
“I was reading a recent report where a judge who used a foul language in responding to petition, was sanctioned by the NJC. So the process has become very fair, objective, scientific and, in fact, commendable.
“But the challenge is, are we going to sustain it? I believe it should be sustained, and the way we can sustain it is for the members of the public, for civil society, for the legal practitioners, to continue to commend, show interest in what goes on in the NJC.”
“The leadership has shown commitment. We need to support them. We need to appreciate even those efforts that have been made to restore the integrity of the disciplinary process, not just of the appointing process, but also of the disciplinary process.
“I think the process has begun, and in a few years, we should be able to restore that position of respect, honour and dignity that we lost through maladministration of the judicial system in the past, which process has begun to be corrected and placed on the right footing,” he said.
Sanctioning erring judicial officers fair, commendable – Akinseye-George
