The National Judicial Council, NJC on Thursday backpedalled and suspended seven senior judges arrested on 7 October by the Department of State Security (DSS) for alleged corruption.
However, the NJC refused to call it suspension. It rather said the judges had voluntarily stepped down from court sittings.
This decision came after the council’s 7th meeting between Wednesday and Thursday.
A communique issued and signed by NJC’s Director of Information, Soji Oye, said the decision was taken to avoid allowing persons under investigation to be presiding over judicial matters at the same time.
“Council also decided that Judicial Officers shall not be standing trial for alleged corruption related offences and be performing judicial functions at the same time,” the communique said. “Council however decided that it will ensure that Judicial Officers who are being investigated for alleged high profile criminal offences do not perform judicial functions until their cases are concluded.”
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