A fast-rising human rights activist and Executive Chairman, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ), Comrade Adeniyi, Alimi Sulaiman, has described the apex body of the Benchers, the National Judicial Council (NJC) under Justice Muhammed Mahmud as an embodiment of bias and corruption both in character and actions, insisting that the corrupt judiciary portends danger to the sustainability of the current democratic experiment in the country.

Comrade Sulaiman who also noted that the judiciary of the country needs to be sanitized of corrupt practices which has eaten deep into its system and undermined the public trust, independence, impartiality and confidence of its existence, so as to bring back the lost glory of the Judicial arm of government as the last hope of common man.

He however, stated that most of the disciplinary actions being taken by the Judicial Council against the few judicial officers, were influenced by some cabals in the Executive arm of government, citing an instances of the recent compulsory retirement handed down to courageous and incorruptible Judge of an Osun State High Court, Justice Olamide Folahnami Oloyede, for exposing the alleged criminal mismanagement of public funds by Osun State G0vernor, Mr. Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola.

He also alleged the cover-up of the report of February 1st, 2016 of Justice John Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court to the leadership of the NJC, reporting the Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi’s visitation to his official residence to discuss and request for favour in the election Appeals in respect of Abia State, Akwa Ibom State and River State respectively, adding that the report of the visit of Mr. Umana Umana of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) to Justice Okoro, requesting for the assistance of the Supreme Court to influence the outcome of the Election Petition Tribunal, was also covered-up by the Judicial Council.

Reacting to the recent assertion of the Council through its Acting Director of Information, Mr. Soji Oye that “only the NJC can investigate, exercise disciplinary powers over erring Judicial Officers in the Constitution,” Sulaiman through a signed statement which was made available to newsmen on Monday, maintained that the nation could not only rely on the verdict of the NJC in dealing with the corrupt judicial officers in the country, stressing that the body was also guilty of the complicity of corrupt practices that have battered the image of the judiciary in recent past.

According to him, “We may not agree with the recent Gestapo method being applied by the executive arm of government in fighting corruption in the judiciary, particularly, within those entrusted with the temple of justice but the menace of corruption has destroyed the image of the judiciary as the last hope of common man.

•Photo shows Comrade Adeniyi.

Update news