×

NJC Suspends Justice Talba For 12months Over Pension Scam Ruling

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended Justice Abubakar Talba of the Federal High Court for a period of 12 months without pay. Justice Talba … Continue reading NJC Suspends Justice Talba For 12months Over Pension Scam Ruling


The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended Justice Abubakar Talba of the Federal High Court for a period of 12 months without pay.

Justice Talba was suspended from office sequel to the findings by the council that he did not exercise his discretion judicially and judiciously with regard to the sentences he passed on Mr John Yakubu Yusuf who was on trial for embezzling N30 billion police pension.

The Judge had in January, sentenced Mr Yusuf, a director in the Police Pension Office, to six years imprisonment or the option of N750, 000 fine for criminal conversion of money meant for pensioners.

The judicial council also issued ‘serious warnings’ to Justice Talba to desist from unreasonable exercise of judicial discretion in all matters brought before him.

On the various petitions written against Justice Okechukwu Okeke of the Federal High Court who is to retire from service on the 18th of May 2013, the NJC considered his response and decided to warn him seriously.

The council had set up a fact finding committee to investigate the allegation levelled against Justice Talba and several other justices.

The National Judicial Council also resolved that Justice Abubakar Talba of the Abuja High Court who allowed a former deputy director in the police pension office, Mr John Yusuf to pay N750.000 fine and walked away free after he was convicted for stealing N1.3 billion naira, has a case to answer.

Following its resolution the council has set up a committee to further investigate the judge and come up with a detailed report of what actually transpired.

The committee will also consider whether the judgment given by Justice Talba was appropriate in the circumstance, and according to existing laws.

The council could however not take any decision on 18 other petitions against judges because the responses of judges to the query issued against them came late.

The council will at its next meeting billed to hold at June 13th, 2013 consider the committee’s report on Justice Talba.