The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recalled
Adeniyi Ademola, justice of the federal high court,
Abuja, who was suspended following charges of
corruption brought against him by the government.
Before his recall, an Abuja high court had discharged
and acquitted Ademola of the charges filed against
him.

Also recalled were five judges some of whom the
Department of State Services (DSS) arrested on
October 8, 2016, on allegations of corruption.

They are John Inyang Okoro, supreme court; Uwani
Abba Aji, court of appeal; Hydiazira Nganjiwa, federal
high court; Musa Kurya, federal high court, and
Agbadu James Fishim, National Industrial Court of
Nigeria.

The NJC said the judges were to resume duty on June
7.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Soji Oye, NJC
spokesman, the council said it took the decision at its
meeting which ended on Thursday.

It said out of eight judges, who were suspended owing
to “investigations against them”, only three of them –
Ademola, Sylvester Ngwuta and Ofili-Ajumogobia –
have been charged to court.

“The National Judicial Council, under the chairmanship
of Hon Justice Walter S N Onnoghen, GCON, at its
82nd meeting which was held on 31 May and 1 June,
2017, considered the case of eight judicial officers who
were directed to recuse themselves from duties on the
request of the attorney-general of the federation
pending the outcome of investigations against them.

To maintain the integrity and sanctity of the judiciary
and sustain public confidence, the judicial officers
were directed to recuse themselves from office with
effect from 2 November, 2016,” the statement read.

“After deliberation, council noted that out of the judicial
officers directed to recuse themselves from performing
their official duties, only three have been charged to
court. They are: Hon Justice N S Ngwuta, CFR, of the
Supreme Court of Nigeria; Justice A F A Ademola of the
federal high court; and Hon Justice Rita Ofili-
Ajumogobia of the federal high court.

“The trial of Hon Justice A F A Ademola has been
concluded and he has been discharged and acquitted
of the charges filed against him.

“In view of the foregoing, council decided that the
various heads of court should direct the following
judicial officers to resume their judicial duties with
effect from Wednesday 7 June, 2017, as there are
already backlog of cases in their various court for the
past eight months: Hon Justice John Inyang Okoro of
the supreme court; Hon Justice Uwani Abba Aji of the
court of appeal; Hon Justice Hydiazira A Nganjiwa of
the federal high court; Hon Justice A F A Ademola of
the federal high court who has been discharged and
acquitted; Hon Justice Musa H Kurya of the federal
high court; and Hon Justice Agbadu James Fishim of
National Industrial Court of Nigeria.”

Thecable