*****Ekiti: Probe panel likely today as NJC meets over Fayose’s inauguration***** The National Judicial Council (NJC) is meeting today and tomorrow to deliberate on major issues in the judiciary. Top on the agenda for the meeting was the Thursday inauguration of Mr Ayodele Fayose as the new governor of Ekiti State. The council is involved because one of its members who is also the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, had been pointedly accused by the governor-elect and his party; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of spearheading a plot to scuttle the inauguration. Daramola had not publicly denied the allegation and the council had said it was investigating the allegation. The Chief Judge accused Fayose of leading alleged thugs to the premises of the state High Court to attack judges. NJC said it was also investigating the allegation. A council source disclosed that a probe panel might be set up at the end of the council meeting on Tuesday over the allegations, counter-allegations and the political-cum-judicial crisis rocking the state. A retired head of court is likely to head the panel, going by Nigerian Tribune’s checks. Apart from a likely formal position on Fayose’s swearing-in, the council is also reportedly planning to speak on the controversial security beef-up at the state high court. While Daramola and NJC demanded a security beef-up from the police which had been reportedly granted, the All Progressives Congress (APC) accused President Goodluck Jonathan of using the military to keep the courts firmly shut until Fayose’s swearing-in. This was said to be a move to prevent judgement in a case on Fayose’s eligibility. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in a statement, called the APC a liar over the accusation, explaining that the courts were shut down by striking judicial workers over their unpaid salaries and allowances. The imminent retirement of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar is also said to be on the agenda for the meeting.
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 04:35:12 +0000
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