RIVERS CRISIS: CJN Kekere-Ekun summons FHC CJ, orders probe of judges
By KEMI KASUMU
Information reaching The DEFENDER has it that the National Judicial Council (NJC) is currently probing judges of the Federal and State High Courts, who many believed to be involved in fueling crisis in Rivers State with their conflicting rulings on political cases brought before them.
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on Monday reportedly held a meeting with the panel in her office and gave a marching order that the probe report should be submitted this week.
According to the order, all judges involved in the multiple cases arising from the unending political crisis have now been summoned by the probe panel.
The DEFENDER reports that the political crisis in Rivers State was said to have been triggered by Nyesom Wike, who had already spent his own time as governor and is now Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) struggling with the sitting Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, over control of the state resources.
According to citing the Nigerian Tribune, the NJC panel probing the judges is headed by a former Justice of the Court of Appeal (name withheld).
Two heads of courts are also members of the panel.
The report said that the CJN had also summoned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to make himself available for questioning on Tuesday October 29, 2024.
According to the media report, while a couple of formal complaints have been tabled before the National Judicial Council, it was the CJN, who suo moto ordered a comprehensive probe into the public concerns the court cases have generated.
