Alleged miscarriage of Justice: NJC to investigate Osun Judge

Alleged miscarriage of Justice: NJC to Investigate Osun Judge

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has promised to investigate Justice Kudirat Morayo Akano, an Osun State High Court judge, over claims that she deliberately subverted the course of justice when she threw out a case brought before the court.

In a letter obtained by FIJ, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN) and chairman of the NJC, stated that the council was looking into the allegations against Akano.

“This is to acknowledge receipt of your petition dated 29th June, 2022, on the above subject matter and verifying affidavit forwarded vide letter dated 9th May, 2023, and to inform you that action is being taken, please,” the CJN said in a one-paragraphed acknowledgement letter he personally signed on July 7.

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NJC’s decision followed a petition written by the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice’s Michael Agaasi on behalf of Adeniyi Sulaiman, a plaintiff in the case Akano struck out.

Sulaiman, a contestant to the stool of Alawo of Awo, a community in the Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State, claimed that the judge struck out a case in which he was challenging the selection of Taiwo Rasaq Adegboye as the new Alawo of Awo on September 13, 2021.

In the case marked HED/48/2021, which was instituted by Sulaiman against Taiwo Abdulrasaq Adegboye before an Osun State High Court sitting in Ede, Sulaiman claimed that Taiwo forged some documents used during his selection as the Alawo of Awo.

Sulaiman said that, rather than hear the matter on its merit, the Iragbiji-born judge was said to have disposed of it after four appearances before her court.

The human rights group said it believed that the judge had compromised her position as a judicial officer and only the NJC could investigate the matter, hence the petition.