The National Judicial Council (NJC) has expressed reservations regarding a House of Representatives proposal to grant the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) the authority to sanction and remove judges accused of corruption, okay.ng reports.
On March 25, 2025, the House of Representatives passed a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow for the removal of corrupt judges, with the NBA handling petitions, defenses, and subsequent actions.
Kemi Ogedengbe, Deputy Director of Information at the NJC, questioned the bill’s feasibility and legality, citing constitutional provisions that place the responsibility for disciplining judges squarely with the NJC. She emphasized that judicial disciplinary procedures involve presenting concrete evidence of corruption.
“The constitutional requirements place the discipline of judges in the hands of the NJC, and it doesn’t just come with the NJC—it has procedures that must be followed. If a judge is deemed to be corrupt, you can’t just put up a statement that a judge is corrupt. It must be backed up with evidence,” Ogedengbe stated.
She also raised concerns about the NBA’s practical ability to handle such responsibilities and the potential for abuse, questioning who would be held accountable as accessories to judicial corruption.
Ogedengbe highlighted that the proposed amendment would undergo extensive scrutiny, including Senate review, state assembly ratification, and public hearings. She stressed the importance of stakeholder input in determining the bill’s viability.
“The House of Representatives’ bill will not just end there; it will pass through the Senate and the 36 state Houses of Assembly. They are going to ratify it; there will be public hearings on it. So, this is just the tip of the iceberg,” she said.
She concluded by reiterating the NJC’s commitment to adhering to the Constitution’s existing framework for judicial discipline and emphasized that the bill’s success would depend on the outcome of public hearings and stakeholder feedback.
