Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), a key anti-corruption coalition organisation, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to swiftly remove corrupt judges erroneously reinstated by the National Judicial Council.

The anti-corruption group referred to the reinstatement of Justices Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, Justice Agbadu-Fishim, and Justice Nasir Yinusa as sabotage of the fight against corruption in the judicial system in a four-page appeal signed by coalition Chairperson, Olanrewaju Suraju.

“Similarly, the National Judicial Council also reinstated Justice Agbadu-Fishim as a judge despite his arrest and investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged corruption and subversion of justice,” the petition read.

“The National Judicial Council had recommended his dismissal to the President for judicial misconduct, but later decided to reinstate him as a judge of the Council.  Despite previously indicting him for gross misconduct and recommending his retirement to the President, the Council had placed Justice Nasir Yinusa on suspension pending the approval of the recommendation, but surprised many by reinstating him,” it added.

The group also maintained that Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia was unfit to occupy the position of a judge because the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission detained and investigated her for alleged corruption and abuse of office.

She was fired from her position as a public servant with the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari, but the National Judicial Council reportedly reinstated her as a judge of the Federal High Court despite the fact that no Nigerian court overruled her dismissal.

The group argued that the Judicial Council had overstepped its legal authority by ignoring the advice to retire the judges and going forward with their reinstatement.  

It added that the Council had no legal authority to reinstate judges who had previously been indicted for wrongdoing.