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A retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Odili, has declared that lack of raw evidence in petitions filed against judges in the country has been enabling the judges to escape punishment.
According to her, the NJC will only punish a judge if the petitions against such a judge come with material facts backing the petitions.
Justice Odili stated this at the International Conference Centre in Umuahia, monitored by Daily Independent, during the South East regional security summit organized by the Federal Ministry of Defense.
She noted that NJC will never fail to attend to any petition on corruption brought against judges, but stressed that any allegation that comes in waters form without credible evidence backing or proving it will enable the accused person to extricate himself.
“A lot of concerns have been raised in the society about whether justice is what it should be.
‘Some people have grouses about some judges; please send your petitions to the National Judicial Council.
“The Chief Justice of Nigeria attends to every petition that comes against any judicial officer, but some petitions come in watery form without facts, without the material support with which that petition is to be attended to.
“Remember, the Judge you are accusing or you thought has infringed has a right to a fair hearing. So, he can extricate himself from the condemnation or the accusations if the petition is watery and does not have the necessary facts for which it can be handled”, Justice Odili said.
She urged Nigerians, who are dissatisfied with what happened in the courts, to file their petition to the NJC but made it clear that such petitioners must be ready to provide the concrete evidence about the petitions they bring.
“Once your petitions are verified and they have the necessary credence, that judge will get the necessary punishment”, she said
Justice Odili further assured Nigerians that the Nigerian judiciary will continue to play its roles in ensuring justice, peace and security of the country irrespective of our current challenges.
