The National Judicial Council (NJC) has indicted former Chief Judge of Federal Capital Territory High Court, Justice Lawal Gummi who is the current Emir of Gummi, Zamfara State of gross misconduct while in the office.
Justice Gummi resigned the position of Chief Judge, FCT following his appointment as Emir of Gummi after the death of the former Emir, Alhaji Aliyu Abara on May 8, 2013.
NJC said in a statement signed by Soji Oye, the deputy director information, that at its 63 meeting on 17th and 18th July 2013, it deliberated on the report and recommendation of its committee that investigated the petition forwarded to it by Nestello Gateway Group in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/486/10 against Hon. Justice Lawal Hassan Gummi, OFR, the former Hon. Chief Judge of High Court of FCT, Abuja.
“At the end of deliberation, Council accepted the findings of its Committee that Hon. Justice Gummi, OFR, interfered with execution of the judgment delivered by Hon. Justice Jude Okeke of the FCT High Court, Abuja in the suit between Nestello Gateway Group and Alhaji Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, a former National Assembly member and the current Governor of Zamfara State, in which execution had already been levied in favour of the petitioner,” a part of the statement read.
“Council found the interference by Hon. Justice Gummi in the execution of the judgment as most unethical and highly reprehensible. Council also accepted the recommendation of its Investigation Committee that Hon. Justice Gummi was guilty of gross misconduct contrary to Rule 1(i) of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which would have led to his removal from office.
The statement however stated that Council took cognizance of the fact that Hon. Justice Gummi had already voluntarily retired from service and consequently decided not to recommend his removal from office.
It said that henceforth, any similar misconduct by any judicial officer in the federation will be visited with severe sanctions.
The council also reprimanded Hon. Justice M. A. Onyetenu of the Federal High Court for granting ex-parte order without hearing the pending motion on notice and applications in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/236/2012 between Evangelist Charity O. Akah V. Alpaca Price Nigeria Limited and Another.