Justice John Tsoho, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, is scheduled to appear before the National Judicial Council (NJC) probe panel on October 29, in response to several petitions from lawyers and litigants. These petitions, as reported by Daily Post, concern rulings tied to the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, where cases originating from Rivers have been heard in Abuja instead of the Port Harcourt division.
Prominent lawyer Femi Falana recently questioned this approach, sending a letter to Justice Tsoho and expressing concerns that holding hearings in Abuja could increase the likelihood of undue influence on judgments. He highlighted that the Port Harcourt division has five judges available for these cases. The issue gained further attention when Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of Abuja declined a request to recuse herself, emphasizing that case assignments fall solely under the Chief Judge’s authority.
The NJC’s focus on this situation aligns with recent practices, where governorship election petition tribunals for Bayelsa, Kogi, Imo, and Rivers States were held in Abuja due to security concerns tied to political unrest in these regions. Adding complexity to the matter, the Chief Judge of Rivers State High Court will also meet with the NJC panel next week to address conflicting orders issued by judges within the state.
Peoplesmind
