The National Judicial Council (NJC) on Thursday indicted former Chief Judge of FCT High Court, Justice Lawal Gummi, for undue judicial interference.
The council disclosed this in a communiqué issued at the end of its 63rd meeting in Abuja.
The council accused the judge of undue interference in the case between Nestello Gateway Group and Governor Abdul’aziz Yari of Zamfara State.
According to the statement, the meeting deliberated on the report of a committee that investigated a petition forwarded by Nestello against the judge.
The statement by the acting director, Information, Mr Soji Oye, said the council accepted the findings of the committee.
It said the judge interfered in the execution of the judgement delivered by Justice Jude Okeke of the FCT High Court, Abuja.
“Council also found that the interference of Gummi in the execution of the judgement as most unethical and highly reprehensible.
“The former chief judge would have been summarily removed from office as he was guilty of gross misconduct.
“His action was contrary to Rule 1 (i) of the Code of Conduct for judicial officers in Nigeria.
“Council, however, took cognizance of the fact that Gummi has already voluntarily retired from service and consequently decided not to recommend his removal from office,’’ the statement added.
It warned that, henceforth, misconduct by any judicial officer in the federation would be visited with severe sanctions.
In a related development, the council warned Justice M.A Onyetenu of the Federal High Court against granting ex-parte order without hearing the pending motion on notice and application in a case.
The statement made reference to the case with suit No. FHC/PH/CS/236/2012 of Evangelist Charity Akah versus Alpaca Price Nigeria Ltd.
