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Enugu High Court Judge, Oluedo, faces NJC probe over alleged judicial misconduct

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A Judge of the Enugu State High Court, Justice E. N Oluedo has been dragged to the National Judicial Council, NJC, for probe over alleged judicial misconduct said to have been committed in the course of his judicial duties.

NJC which has commenced action in a petition against the Judge is to determine whether he actually violated the Code of Conduct for public officers, contained in the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as alleged by the petitioner.

The petitioner, Dr Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo, filed the complaint against Justice Oluedo accusing him of misconducting himself while conducting a proceeding in a suit with No. E/298C/2019, between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and himself.

Okonkwo who claimed to be validly appointed Liquidator of Ifemelunma and Company Nigeria Enterprises Limited, complained that Justice Oluedo assumed jurisdiction in a charge against him despite becoming aware of Appeal No. CA/E/4C/2025 at the Court of Appeal, between him and the Federal Government in respect of the same subject matter and parties.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on February 26, 2025
arraigned Okonkwo before Justice Oluedo on a one-count charge, bordering on alleged fraud.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was allowed to enjoy the bail conditions earlier granted him by another judge.

He, however, later issued a press statement, lambasting EFCC and challenging the competence of the charge against him especially the connection between Section 6(b) of the EFCC Act, 2004 and the one-count charge filed against him by the commission, to wit:

“That you, Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo on or about the 23rd day of November 2015 in Enugu within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently converted to your own use the sum of N41 million, being money received by you from one Onyishi Maduka Samuel for the family of Late Joel Ifemelunma Okoye.”

Citing Section 211 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution and five Supreme Court decisions, he challenged the competence of the EFCC and the Jurisdiction of the High Court of Enugu State to try the case.

Prior to his arraignment on February 26, 2025, Okonkwo claimed that he had informed the court of a pending appeal against the decision of the court and a motion for stay of proceedings on the matter entered at the Court of Appeal as CA/E/4C/2025, which had been duly served on EFCC and the court registrar, but the court declined and ruled that he must take his plea.

Angered by his arraignment by the Judge, Okonkwo in his petition to the NJC requested that the Judge be investigated on ground of misconduct by assuming jurisdiction despite pending appeal at the Court of Appeal on the same subject matter.

His petition dated April 10, 2025 and filed through the Office of the Secretary of the NJC, was titled, “Petition against His Lordship Hon. Justice E.N. Oluedo-Judicial Officer under The High Court of Enugu State of Nigeria, for an Act, which borders on Judicial Impertinence, an affront to the authority of the Court of Appeal in Suit No. E/298C/2019, now pending and duly entered as Appeal No.CA/E/4C/2025.”

In a reply to the petitioner dated April 17, 2025, with Reference No. NJC/S.14/HC.EN/25/III/112, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Chairman of NJC, Hon. Justice Kudirat M.O. Kekere-Ekun acknowledged the receipt of the petition and informed him that action was being taken.

Meanwhile, a copy of the petition sighted by our reporter highlighted the facts upon which the allegation of misconduct against Hon. Justice Oluedo by the petitioner was made.

Among others, Okonkwo fumed that the Judge conducted his arraignment on the EFCC fraud charge despite becoming aware of appeal at the Court of Appeal, between him and the Federal Government.

Okonkwo claimed he made the pending appeal known to Justice Oluedo when the matter was called up in her court on February 26, 2025 and prayed the high court in line with the hierarchy of courts, to stay the matter pending the outcome of proceedings at the Court of Appeal, Enugu.

The aggrieved petitioner claimed that the Judge after considering the submissions for and against the request to stay proceedings in the EFCC charge overruled him and ordered him to take his plea which he did.

Okonkwo therefore maintained in his petition to the NJC that the Enugu State High Court has no jurisdiction to continue with the proceeding in the charge brought against him by the EFCC, having become aware of appeal No. CA/E/4C/2025 and a motion for stay of prosecution at the Court below.

“It is a highly esteemed principle of Law that as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution, that in the administration of criminal justice, parties to a legal duel must each be accorded every opportunity of canvassing its case to the best of its ability, within the rules regulating the procedure to achieve the end of justice.

“In the present case, the trial court failed in its duty when despite its being notified of the pendency of a stay of proceedings at the Court of Appeal, it refused the application for adjournment and proceeded to arraign the complainant, painting a picture of the judge descending into the arena of litigation.”

He described the ruling by Justice Oluedo dated 26/2/2025, marked as Exhibit CP4 as a flagrant disobedience of the Supreme Court decision in the case of Western Steel Works Limited versus Iron and Steel Workers Union (1986).

At the time of this report, it could not be ascertained whether Justice Oluedo had filed defense to the petition as he could not be reached but the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) as NJC Chairman confirmed receipt of the petition and commencement of action on it.

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Fuel price reduction: ‘Joy’s coming’ – Manufacturers

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Director General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Segun Ajayi-Kadiri, sees the price of fuel coming down to N800.

Ekwutosblog reported recently that Dangote Petroleum Refinery slashed its ex-depot price for Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, to N840 per litre.

The reduction represents a N40 decrease from the previous rate of N880 per litre.

This happened a few days after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, increased the pump price of petrolto N925 per litre in Lagos.

This decrease is also coming a week after Dangote Refinery increased the ex-depot petrol price to N880 per litre

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television, Ajayi-Kadiri said that it was a welcome development, adding that price of the product would further decrease to N800 with the modalities being put in place by Dangote Refineries.

“You cannot blame anyone for producing and ensuring effective delivery,” he said.

When asked to share his thoughts from a manufacturer’s point of view on what he sees about the long term effect, he added, “So if I may use what the Gen Z is called ‘Joy is coming’, that’s what I see.

“The long term is going to be better. I see the price coming down to 800 and that’s what manufacturers want.

“I just told you now that last year, we spent as much as 1.1 trillion in terms of providing alternatives, apart from the fact that even the quality of the products is not guaranteed.

“So in the near future, I continue to see continued reduction in the price of diesel.

“I also see a situation where other players will be encouraged to come into the field, because that is what it takes. I don’t think that we should use sentiment to dissuade any investor from improving the life and well being of the people.

 

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FCT ground rent: I have no apology for revoking Rochas Okorocha’s land – Wike

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that he revoked the land of former Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha.

Wike warned that the FCT Administration under his leadership will repossess any land where the owners fail to pay their land rent.

He disclosed this during the 60th birthday of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, in Abuja over the weekend.

Anyanwu had celebrated his birthday at the newly renovated Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, the Minister assured property owners of getting the best services if they pay their ground rent.

He said: “Rochas Okorocha is here, he is my boss, even though I revoked his land because the right thing must be done, he is my man.

“Senators are here, Ikpeazu, my colleagues are here, yes, if you don’t pay, I will take back our property.

“Look at what Julius Berger did here, is it by empty hand? It is not by money?

“Pay and you will get the best services, and you are getting the best services under the leadership of Tinubu. I have no apologies because I’m the one here.”

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Suspected herdsmen kill three policemen, seize rifles in Benue

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Udei community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State was thrown into panic on Sunday following an attempted attack by suspected herdsmen, which reportedly left three police officers feared dead.

Eyewitnesses said the gunmen ambushed the officers during the attack and allegedly made away with their rifles.

As of the time of filing this report, the Benue State Police Command and other relevant authorities have not issued any official statement regarding the attack.

More to come…

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