NJC sacks Osun Judge, dismisses Adeleke’s petition against CJ

The National Judicial Council, on Thursday, recommended the compulsory retirement of a judge of the Osun State High Court  Justice S. O. Falola.

The NJC said he was found guilty of granting a garnishee order absolute against Polaris Bank for the sum of N283,174,000.00 in a questionable manner.

A statement by the  Director of Information, NJC, Adesoji Oye, said the investigation committee found that Falola travelled to Lagos to visit the counsel for the bank on the issue of garnishee proceedings, an action it described as unprofessional.

Oye said, “The National Judicial Council, under the Chairmanship of Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, at its 104th Meeting of 6 and 7 December 2023, has recommended the compulsory retirement of Honourable Justice S. O. Falola of the Osun State High Court from the bench.

The recommendation was made sequel to the findings of an investigation committee in a petition written against His Lordship by Mr. Dapo Kolapo Olowo and Polaris Bank for granting a garnishee order absolute against the bank for the sum of N283,174,000.00

questionably and strangely, and endorsement of the order, attaching the account of the garnishee with another garnishee and not the account of the judgment debtor, who had the legal obligation to pay the supposed judgment sum.

“It further found the conduct of the subject judge, travelling to Lagos to visit the counsel for the bank in his chambers on the issue of garnishee proceedings, unbecoming of the standard expected of a judicial officer.”

The NJC spokesman said the council had recommended to Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State to compulsorily retire Justice Falola with immediate effect.

He noted that the NJC had suspended Falola from office pending the approval of the recommendation of his compulsory kretirement by the state governor.

The NJC described the petitions against them as unmeritorious and dismissed them.

“However, Honourable Justice A. I. Akobi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory is to be issued a letter of guidance to take proper charge and control of his court, “ the statement added.

Oye noted that the council received 51 fresh petitions written against federal and state judicial officers and constituted 11 panels to investigate petitions that have merits.