Famous activists group-Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other offences Commission (ICPC) to initiate the process of interrogation and possible prosecution over alleged misappropriation of public funds made against the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court- Husseini Baba-Yusuf.
This is following allegations of corruption and personnel grievances against Chief Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf made anonymously by ranking judges of the same Court.
The Right group maintained that the fact that several judges have disclosed to a well known investigative online medium about the agonizing experiences they endure under the leadership of Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, it should propel immediate, transparent and clinical forensic investigations of the finances of the FCT High Court.
HURIWA also called on the Chief Judge of FCT to provide evidence publicly to counter these allegations against him since five judges from the court expressed deep concerns about the mismanagement of resources within their division which has left judicial officers struggling in the midst of widespread hardship exacerbated by President Bola Tinubu’s decision to eliminate petrol subsidies in an attempt to prevent a broader economic crisis.
‘’Accounts gathered by this online newspaper showed that the judges are alarmed that this neglect could increase their vulnerability to bribery, even though they vehemently asserted their commitment to upholding justice and their willingness to resign rather than compromise their principles. Since 2007 when President Umar Yar’Adua raised the salaries of FCT judges from N200,000 to N530,000 monthly (roughly $600), no reviews have been conducted, much less approved.’’
HURIWA in a statement by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko affirmed that these revelations are strong enough to constitute a subject of investigation by the National Judicial Council.
The Group Urged other anti-graft bodies to conduct investigation and send their findings to the National judicial Council to enable EFCC or ICPC to take over and play their statutory role of prosecution if the Chief Judge is indicted of these damaging allegations.
HURIWA calls on the Chief justice of Nigeria who is the Chairman of the National Judicial Council to implement measures to dissuade heads of courts across the Country from committing criminal acts which have continued to stain the public standing of the judiciary just as the Rights group regretted that the Nigerian Court system has become more notorious in terms of bribery and corruption much more than the Nigerian police force that has held that infamous position for decades.
