NJC Sacks Cross River State Judge
ABUJA – The National Judicial Council, NJC, Friday, suspended Justice B. T. Ebuta of the High Court of Justice, Cross River State, from office over alleged judicial misconduct.
In a statement, Friday, the Council said Justice Ebuta’s suspension from office was with immediate effect.
It said the Judge should remain at home pending when Governor Ben Ayade approves its recommendation for him to be send on a compulsory retirement.
NJC which is headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed took the decision after its 76th meeting which held in Abuja on June, 1st and 2nd.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mahmud Mohammed
According to the statement which was signed by the Acting Director of Information at the NJC, Mr. Soji Oye, “Hon. Justice B. T. Ebuta was recommended for compulsory retirement from Office to the Governor of Cross River State, sequel to the findings by the Council on the allegations of abuse of Judicial power, suppression and illegal/forceful takeover of a property in Calabar as contained in the petition written against him by Dr. (Mrs) Ekanem Cobham who alleged:- “That Hon. Justice B.T. Ebuta made an order based on Ex-parte Application without sitting in Court.
“That Hon. Justice B.T. Ebuta granted the said Ex-parte Application to unseal her property which was sealed on the order of a Magistrate Court when her tenant, Mr. Ugochukwu Chijioke failed to pay rent for two years.
“She stated that she filed Suit No MC/RT/12/6/14 at the Magistrate Court, Calabar against her tenant for failing to pay her rent and judgement was delivered in her favour on 10th November, 2014.
