How cases involving Adenuga, Stella Oduah landed Judge in trouble

The National Judicial Council has sacked two judges,
Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High
Court, Lagos Division, and Justice Olamide Oloyede
of the High Court of Justice, Osun State, for alleged
misconduct.
The two judges were suspended from office on July
15 during a meeting of the Council, led by the Chief
Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed and
recommended for compulsory retirement to
President Muhammadu Buhari following allegations
of abuse of office.
A statement from the NJC signed by its Director of
communucations, Soji Oye, said Mr. Yunusa was
sacked for issuing illegal court orders restraining the
office of the Attorney General of the Federation, the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and the
Independent Corrupt Practices and other related
offences Commission, from carrying out
investigation into alleged financial misappropriation
by public officers, including Senator Stella Oduah.
The statement said the council made the decision
after investigating a petition by the Civil Society
Network Against Corruption which informed it (the
council) about the alleged abuse of office by Mr.
Yunusa during his decision in cases involving Mrs.
Oduah; Nigeria’s telecom mogul, Mike Adenuga;
Executive Secretary of Nigerian Health Insurance
Scheme, Martins Thomas; and three others — Jide
Adelakun, Shamsudeen Abogu and John Adonimere.
According to the NJC, its findings revealed that Mr,
Yunusa acted against rule 3 (1) of the Code of
Conduct for official Judicial Officers when he claimed
ignorance of the provisions of the Money
Laundering Act by stopping the EFCC from carrying
out investigation into alleged cases of financial
misappropriation.
“That Hon. Justice Yunusa’s decision restraining the
anti-graft agencies from carrying out their statutory
functions in the first six cases mentioned earlier is
contrary to the Judgement of the Court of Appeal in
A.G Anambra State Vs. UBA which His Lordship
quoted but did not apply in his rulings,” the
statement said.
The council’s decision for Mrs. Oloyede to retire is
based on its findings that she failed to uphold the
dignity of her office.
“The Hon. Judge failed to conduct herself in such a
manner as to preserve the dignity of her office and
impartiality and independence of the Judiciary when
she wrote a petition against the Osun State governor
and his deputy to the members of the State House of
Assembly and circulated same to 36 persons and
organizations.
“The Petition was said to contain political
statements, unsubstantiated allegations and
accusations aimed at deriding, demeaning and
undermining the Government of Osun State, the
person and character of the Governor (as one who is
cruel, a liar and a traitor), his deputy and aides.
“The petition contained statements calculated to
incite the residents of Osun State against the State
Government and its elected Officers. Hon. Justice
Oloyede crossed the fundamental right of freedom of
speech and created a negative perception of the
Nigerian Judiciary to the Public,” the Council stated.
The allegations are contrary to Section 292 (1) (b) of
the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, as amended and Rules 1 (1) and Rule 5 of
the 2016 Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The council said its decision to punish the judges
was based on its powers, as enshrined by the 1999
constitution.