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The National Judicial Council, NJC, Friday, suspended Justice B. T. Ebuta of the High Court of Justice, Cross River State, from office over alleged judicial misconduct.
In a statement, Friday, the Council said Justice Ebuta’s suspension from office was with immediate effect.
It said the Judge should remain at home pending when Governor Ben Ayade approves its recommendation for him to be sent on compulsory retirement.
NJC which is headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed took the decision after its 76th meeting which held in Abuja on June, 1st and 2nd.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mahmud Mohammed According to the statement which was signed by the Acting Director of Information at the NJC, Mr. Soji Oye, “Hon. Justice B. T. Ebuta was recommended for compulsory retirement from Office to the Governor of Cross River State, sequel to the findings by the Council on the allegations of abuse of judicial power, suppression and illegal/forceful takeover of a property in Calabar as contained in the petition written against him by Dr. (Mrs) Ekanem Cobham.
Ekanem had alleged in her petition that – “Hon. Justice B.T. Ebuta made an order based on Ex-parte Application without sitting in Court.
“That Hon. Justice B.T. Ebuta granted the said Ex-parte Application to unseal her property which was sealed on the order of a Magistrate Court when her tenant, Mr. Ugochukwu Chijioke failed to pay rent for two years.
“That she filed Suit No MC/RT/12/6/14 at the Magistrate Court, Calabar against her tenant for failing to pay her rent and judgement was delivered in her favor on 10th November, 2014.”
Justice Ebuta is notoriously known among legal circle in Calabar as a very corrupt judge who has been associated with shady dealings for a long time.
Several lawyers who reacted to his sack told CrossRiverWatch that it was a huge relief for them because the sacked judge had become an embarrassment to the bench.
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