Enugu State Chief Judge in Trouble for Collecting N10m Donation

Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed

 The National Judicial Council, NJC, has queried the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike over an allegation that he accepted N10 million donation from a litigant before his court. 

 

The query came after an allegation contained in a petition was forwarded to the NJC by an Enugu-based legal practitioner, Mr. Peter N. Eze. It was alleged that Umezulike invited a litigant who was a plaintiff before him to the launching of a book he wrote, and accepted a donation of N10 million from the litigant, this goes against the code of conduct for judges. 

 

Eze also revealed in the petition with Ref No. MSC/23/2016, dated February 19, 2016, that the CJ “altered a court order, for the purposes of assisting a judgment creditor to gain possession of a parcel of land in dispute.”

 

The petitioner also cited instances of misconduct against the CJ as he revealed a case in which the CJ struck out a plaintiff’s application, and still awarded punitive costs against the defendant. He told the legal body that the CJ issued a warrant of arrest against him, an action he said was connected to the fact that he criticised the N10m donation. 

 

“My Lord I believe that this order for my arrest was made in bad faith and was a gross abuse of judicial power and my fundamental rights. It was meant to intimidate me and cower me for complaining about the earlier misconduct of Justice Umezulike. 

“My Lord, I have suffered grave persecution in the hands of Hon. Justice I. A. Umezulike. I brought the matter to the attention of the NJC in 2014 and sadly I was told that the NJC was satisfied with the explanation Hon. Justice Umezulike had given to my complaints.

 

“Unfortunately I was never shown a copy of the reply Justice Umezulike sent to the allegations I made. 

 

“In the meantime, I have been harassed by the police, sent on exile and my practice has virtually ground to a halt. 

"All because I pointed out to Justice Umezulike that it was wrong for a judge to invite a litigant who is a plaintiff in his court, to a launching of a book written by him, and accept a donation of N10,000,000 from the litigant. 

 

“It is my fervent prayer that this time, my complaints are seen to be grave enough to warrant a panel of enquiry being set up to investigate Hon. Justice Umezulike”, the petitioner added.

 

Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has given Justice Umezulike 14 days to respond to the allegations. 

 

The query with Ref No. NJC/S.14/HC.EN/1/IV/327, read: “I forward herewith a petition Ref No. Msc/23/2016 dated February 19, 2016, against you by one Mr. Peter N. Eze on the above subject matter. The petition speaks for itself. I shall be glad to have your comments within two weeks from the date of your receipt of this letter, please.”