Rivers crisis: High Court Chief Judge Tsoho to appear before NJC probe panel

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Rivers crisis: High Court Chief Judge Tsoho to appear before NJC probe panel

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, will on Tuesday, October 29, appear before the probe panel of the National Judicial Council, NJC, over judgements being churned out by his court in respect of cases on the Rivers political crisis.

Justice Tsoho is expected to defend the court under his watch over some petitions brought before NJC by some lawyers and litigants, mainly on Rivers’ political disputes.

The chief judge is to specifically explain why the Rivers cases are being heard in Abuja instead of the Port Harcourt division of the court.

One of the lawyers in one of the matters, Femi Falana, had last Friday fired a letter to the chief judge querying why the cases emanating from Port Harcourt are being heard in Abuja instead of in the Port Harcourt division, where he claimed that the Court has five judges on its bench.

He drew the attention of the court to insinuations being peddled in some quarters that judgements are being allegedly procured in Abuja.

Although the issue was tabled before the court and Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of Abuja division hearing one of the cases was asked to recuse herself for Port Harcourt division to take over, Abdulmalik in a ruling refused to grant the request.

The judge rather held that only the Chief Judge had the administrative function of assigning cases to judges.

It will be recalled that the Bayelsa, Kogi, Imo and Rivers State governorship election petition tribunals sat in Abuja to ensure the security of the lives of judges and their supporting staff over the volatility of political situations in some of the states.

It was also learnt that the Chief Judge of Rivers State High Court will also appear before the NJC probe panel next week to explain how some conflicting orders were issued by some of the state high court judges.