August 30, (THEWILL) – The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Chairman of the National Judicial Council, (NJC), Justice Tanko Muhammad, has summoned the Chief Judges of Rivers, Kebbi, Cross River, Anambra, Jigawa and Imo State to an emergency meeting.
This is said to be part of efforts to stem the recent wave of embarrassing and conflicting ex parte orders emanating from Judges in their jurisdictions.
Parties to the leadership crisis rocking the opposition PDP had obtained several ex parte orders, some barring and some permitting embattled Prince Uche Secondus, the National Chairman, in his effort to retain his seat.
THEWILL had reported that barely three days after a Rivers State High Court issued an ex parte order suspending Secondus from office, on Monday Justice Nusirat. I. Umar, a vacation Judge of the Kebbi State High Court on Thursday restored the National Chairman to his position.
However, things took a dramatic turn late Friday night as another High Court sitting in Cross River State restrained Secondus from the position in a case filed by a PDP member, Enang Kanum Wani.
In a letter of invitation dated 30th of August 2021, the CJN summoned the head of the concerned courts to the emergency meeting to brief him on the incessant granting of the conflicting orders on suits instituted by different political parties before the various courts.
The spokesperson of the NJC, Soji Oye, who confirmed the development, said the meeting would be held sometime this week.
A part of the invitation letter reads, “My attention has been drawn to media reports to the effect that some courts of coordinate jurisdictions were granting conflicting ex parte orders on the same subject matter. It has become expedient for me to invite you for a detailed briefing on the development. This is even more compelling having regard to an earlier NJC warning to judicial officers on the need to be circumspect in granting ex parte applications.”
THEWILL gathered that the meeting between the CJN and the six Justices, is a prelude to a larger NJC meeting likely to be held next week.
The leadership of the Judiciary is said to be embarrassed at the recent developments and the meeting is part of measures to stem the tide and know the facts before the larger council deliberation.
About the Author
