Ignore graft allegations against judge – NJC tells Buhari

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has refuted allegations of corruption against Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, who was recently recommended to President Muhammadu Buhari for appointment as Justice of the Supreme Court.

Following the recommendation of Abba-Aji to the president for confirmation through the Senate, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption threatened to challenge the appointment in court alleging that the judge’s name was featured in an online newspaper publication of October 16, 2018 as being those facing investigation for bribery.

But in a statement on Wednesday by its Director of Information, Soji Oye, NJC said that according to the Nigerian law, nobody is to be punished except for an offence established by due process of law.

It revealed that though Abba-Aji was among seven judges directed in 2016 to recuse themselves from performing their judicial functions pending investigation by security agency, he and five others were recalled while others were arraigned in court.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Hon. Mr. Justice Abba-Aji has since been sitting in Court and no Investigation Agency has filed any new allegation against His Lordship, in fact, his international passport had been returned to him and he had been travelling outside the country without any hindrance, signalling that the investigation agencies have nothing new against His Lordship,” the statement reads.

The NJC re-affirmed its commitment on zero tolerance for corruption, which it said, is the stand of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.