Sacked Judge Sues President Jonathan, NJC To Court

Chat212 - Mail Summary...

• Justice Gladys who was dismissed by the President on the recommendation of the NJC, has approached an Abuja Federal High Court to challenge her compulsory retirement.
• In the ex parte motion filed on her behalf by her counsel, S. I. Ameh, SAN, the former judge is seeking an order of certiorari for judicial review of her suspension and recommendation for retirement by the NJC.

Chat212 - Mail News... Report

Justice Gladys Olotu, who was dismissed by President Goodluck Jonathan on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, has approached an Abuja Federal High Court to challenge her compulsory retirement.

Justice Olotu was a judge of the same Abuja FHC before she was relieved of her duties after the NJC found her guilty of gross misconduct, following investigations of petitions against her.

In the ex parte motion filed on her behalf by her counsel, S. I. Ameh, SAN, the former judge is seeking an order of certiorari for judicial review of her suspension and recommendation for retirement by the NJC.

Listed as the defendants in the suit are President Jonathan, the NJC, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mariam Mukhtar, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, SAN, and the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta.

After hearing the ex parte motion in his chambers on Wednesday, Justice Adeniyi Ademola granted Olotu leave to seek a judicial review of her suspension, and thereafter adjourned to March 19 for hearing.

Justice Ademola directed that all the defendants should be served with the motion before the hearing date.

Justice Olotu was dismissed alongside Justice U. A. Inyang of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.

The AGF had announced the President’s approval of the NJC recommendation.

Earlier on February 27, the Acting Director of Information in the NJC, Soji Oye, had explained in a statement that the Council, headed by the CJN, Justice Mukhtar, suspended the two judges and forwarded the recommendation for their dismissal to the President at a meeting on February 26.

The recommendation for compulsory retirement of the two judges was based on findings made by the NJC after investigations into allegations contained in petitions brought against them.