Lagos based nongovernmental organization, has welcomed the decision of the Nigerian judiciary to suspend Abubakar Talba of the Abuja High Court for 12 months, last week.
Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, had approved the suspension of Mr. Talba following his controversial judgment on John Yusufu, who was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over an alleged N32.8 billion Police Pension Fraud.
In a statement on Sunday, the group said that Ms. Muktar had “stepped up to the plate” to fight elements that have, for a long time, undermined the legacy and strength of the Nigerian judiciary.
“There is so much more that needs to be done to lift up the Judiciary from the doldrums and make the institution relevant for Nigeria’s future,” said the statement signed by Joseph Otteh, Access to Justice’s Executive Director.
Mr. Yusufu, had pleaded guilty to stealing N2 billion of pension savings, and was sentenced to two years in jail, with a shocking N250, 000 option of fine.
Mr. Yusufu promptly paid the fine and left the court premises in his car; before public outrage compelled the EFCC to re-arrest him.
Mr. Otteh said the decision to suspend him for one year without pay is likely without precedent in all of Nigeria’s history.
“He will be basically without work and pay and stay in enforced hibernation for the entire period,” Mr. Otteh said.
“Taken more broadly, this decision means that the Judiciary in Nigeria is getting more serious about the quality, rationality, prudence and justness of substantive decisions reached by courts in Nigeria and shedding the image of an institution that always could afford to bury its head in the sand when important struggles are at stake,” he added.
“Mr. Talba, however, has a fresh chance to reappraise his own place in the judiciary by resolving the difficult choices placed before him in manner that can be redemptive, both for himself and the judicial institution and salvage whatever can be salvaged from this situation,” Access to Justice said.
“What has happened has diminished his moral standing and authority and would adversely affect perceptions court users would have of his forthrightness and autonomy.”
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