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

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 council’s Director of Information, Adesoji Oye, indicated that the investigation committee held that Falola traveled to Lagos to visit the bank’s counsel in his chambers on the issue of Garnishee Proceedings, an action which it described as unprofessional.

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

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“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 traveling 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.”

Soji, however, said the council has recommended to the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, to compulsorily retire him with immediate effect.

He noted that the NJC has suspended Falola from office pending the approval of the recommendation of his compulsory retirement by the Osun State Governor.

Also, the council declined the request by the state governor to suspend the embattled Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo.

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The council also held that it would not work with the resolution of the state House of Assembly.

Soji said, “Council considered and declined the request of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State requesting its permission to swear in the next most senior judge in the state in an acting capacity, following allegations leveled against Hon. Justice Adepele Ojo, Chief Judge, Osun State and the resolution of the State House of Assembly to suspend him.

“The Council affirmed that Hon. Justice Ojo is still the recognised Chief Judge of Osun State, and would not work on the resolution of a State House of Assembly.”

Soji also said the council dismissed the petitions against Justice Ekaete F. F. Obot, Chief Judge, Akwa Ibom State; Hon Justice Benson C. Anya of High Court Abia State; Hon. Justice Z. B. Abubakar of Federal High Court, Hon Justice Opufaa Ben-Whyte and Augusta Uche K. Chuku of the High Court of Rivers State, for being unmeritorious, or withdrawal of petitions by the Petitioners.

“However, Hon 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.

Soji 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.

The Federal Road Safety Corps on Thursday disowned the Unit Commander, Central Business District Unit Command, Assistant Corps Commander IL Ibrahim, over his recent statement on Vehicle Inspection Officers, otherwise known as Directorate of Road Traffic Services.

Ibrahim was quoted to have said that VIO officials do not have the right to arrest road traffic violators, including overloaded vehicles and motorists caught using phones while driving.

But Deputy Corps Marshal, Bisi Kazeem, in a statement on Thursday, said Ibrahim’s comment was not the position of the Corps.

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Kazeem added that the concerned official had been recalled to the national headquarters for necessary disciplinary action.

The statement read, “The Federal Road Safety Corps wishes to make a pertinent clarification regarding the pronouncement by the Unit Commander, Central Business District Unit Command, Assistant Corps Commander IL Ibrahim, that Vehicle Inspection Officers, otherwise known as Directorate of Road Traffic Services, do not have the right to arrest road traffic violators, including overloaded vehicles and motorists caught using phones while driving.

“The general public is advised to disregard the statement as it had no approval of the Corps Marshal, Dauda Ali Biu, and does not in anyway reflect the corporate or general position of the Corps.

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“It is important for the public know that the laws establishing VIOs/State Traffic Management Agencies give them the statutory mandate to make arrests on different offences depending on the state within which they operate. As such, the agencies should be given the maximum cooperation for the enhancement of safety on our roads.

“On this note and in line with sustaining the Corps’ resolve that road safety is a collective responsibility, and in acknowledgement of the roles the State Traffic Management Agencies like the Vehicle Inspection Officers play in complementing the statutory responsibilities of the FRSC through enforcement of traffic laws, the Corps Marshal has ordered the immediate withdrawal of the Unit Commander to the national headquarters for necessary administrative and disciplinary actions.

“The public is admonished to always comply with all established traffic regulations and cooperate with security agencies deployed to maintain law and order on the highways, irrespective of their corporate mandate.”

A medical student at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Benin State has expressed his dissatisfaction on X against an undertaking that could extend the duration of students’ time in school to over 12 years.

The 300-level medical student disclosed that they were given an undertaking to sign while they were sitting for their Part 1 MBBS exams.

Sharing the undertaking on His X account on Wednesday, the student wrote, “Forcing students to sign an undertaking like this on the day of their exam is madness. Even cults don’t operate like this. You’re asking people who have already spent five years in the school to sign away their future, and every opportunity to get justice?

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“These are children with dreams. How can a school be so shameless? They paid their fees, paid all the money you asked for, the government paid your salaries, and this is how you’re going to treat your students? Is it because your children are not here? Are we not someone’s child?”

According to the undertaking, the students are required to wait for available space to continue their course, enroll in an 18-month BSc programme in Anatomy or Physiology to stay occupied, and commit to regular fee payments during the waiting period.

The undertaking also prohibits students from engaging in protests or acts that could harm the college and university’s image. The directive was issued on the day of their examination.

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According to the undertaking, the students were required to agree to three conditions.

It reads: “I hereby undertake as follows:

“1. After my Part 1 MBBS (Professional) Examination, I will undertake an 18-month intercalated BSc programme in Anatomy or Physiology in the College of Medicine.

“2. I will wait until anytime there is space for me to proceed to Clinical (400 Level) before I will do so.

“3. I will continue to pay school fees as a medical student.”