The National Judicial Council (NJC) has rejected the resignation letter of Federal High Court judge, Adeniyi Ademola.

Why it matters:

Ademola, who was supposed to retire next year had submitted his resignation letter dated December 6.

The judge was one of those whose houses were raided by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in October 2016.

He was arraigned by the EFCC but the charges against him were later dismissed.

What is happening:

In a statement on Thursday, Soji Oye, spokesman of the NJC, said the council had already recommended Ademola for compulsory retirement.

The council described his resignation as an after-thought.

“The public is hereby informed to disregard news circulating on some news media that Hon. Mr. Justice Ademola has voluntarily retired. The purported voluntary retirement is clearly an afterthought as Council had taken action before his decision to forward any voluntary retirement letter,” the statement read.

“The National Judicial Council, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, at its 84th Meeting which was held on December 6, 2017, recommended the compulsory retirement from office of Justice A. F. A. Ademola and Justice O. O. Tokode both of the Federal High Court for misconduct.

“Mr. Ademola who had forwarded his notice of retirement on 10th October, 2017 to the Council against 9th April, 2018, when he will attain the mandatory retirement age of 65 years was recommended for compulsory retirement from office to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, pursuant to the findings by the Council on the allegation contained in the petition written against His Lordship by a group of 8 persons under the name of Committee of Anambra State PDP House of Representatives Members-Elect.”

Azeez