The Nigerian Judicial Council (NJC) has disagreed with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on the alleged corruption case against some judges.

The NJC, in a statement on Friday, dismissed the call by the NBA for the seven judges under investigation to proceed on compulsory leave until their innocence is fully and completely established or until the conclusion of all judicial or disciplinary proceedings.

Speaking at a valedictory court session that was held in honour of a retiring Justice of the Court of Appeal, the NBA President, Justice Abubakar Mahmoud had said the decision was part of NBA’s commitment to “rid the judiciary of corrupt element.”

Mahmoud added that the NBA, after consultations with other stakeholders in the administration also resolved to set up a Task Force to urgently review the current developments and come up with clear specific recommendations on how best to clean up the nation’s judiciary.

However, the NJC in its response has insisted the judges will not step aside

In a statement the NJC said Mahmoud’s advice “is unacceptable to the NJC; as it breaches the 2014 Revised Judicial Discipline Regulations formulated by NJC pursuant to Section 160 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.”

The council further stated that it shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other authority or person while exercising its disciplinary power of control over judicial officers in the federation.

It added that its constitutional mandate is to process and recommend to the executive at the federal and state levels, the appointment, and or the removal of judicial officers from office, including exercise of its disciplinary control of suspending and or warning judicial officers.

•Pieced together from reports by Channels and TV360 Nigeria. Photo shows judges during an NJC meeting.

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