Human Rights Defender (HRD) has called for the removal of Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Suleiman Dikko for inconpetency, abused of office and disobedience to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
HRD in a statement signed the country Director, Dr. Yau Muktar also urged National Judicial Council (NJC) under the leadership of Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen to urgently investigate the allegations against Justice Suleiman of Nasarawa State.
According to the group, it is inhuman for the Chief Judge to delayed judgement on cases for over five years, which lead to the dead of some of the plaintiffs, after a petition to NJC, the CJ hurriedly pass judgement on the matter.
“The Chief Judge who is the presiding Judge on the matter blantedly refused to give Judgment 7 years after the respective counsel for the parties adopted their final addresses, after a petition to NJC he called them and sentence one and discharge two.
” It was the Court of Appeal in wakino V Ade John (1999) 9 NWLR (part 619) page 403 that held “it has taken up to 11 years as a result of series of Adjournment, wherein it is the duty of of the honourable Court to see that cases are speedily determined since justice dalay is justice denied”.
If indeed justice delay is justice denied, then the Chairman of National Judicial Council (NJC), Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen must urgently look at the petitions before him against the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Suleiman Dikko for grossly abused of office”.
The group further said Justice Suleiman Dikko who ought to used his good office to ensure speedily dispensing of cases before him, but rather choose to torment the parties with frivilous Adjournments without any reason, as a result many are crying out for justice
“We want to whole world to ask Justice Suleiman, why he delayed judgement on the matter till after a petition, and why did he huridly pass judgement without readopting the addresses.
“Also, we don’t know if the NJC is being selective in fighting to ensure a corrupt free Judiciary, because we are forced to ask that what did Justice Ademola of Federal High Court did that he was forcfully retired?, but Justice Suleiman is still in office. Or is it that Justice Suleiman have a godfather in NJC? These are questions and many others that is begging for answer’.