Pension fraud trial Judge suspended for one year by NJC

Pension fraud trial Judge suspended for one year by NJC:

The judge who presided over the pension scam trial and gave light sentence to one of the accused persons, has been suspended for one year without pay by the National
Judicial Council (NJC). Justice Abubakar Talba of the FCT High Court imposed a mere N750,000 to
convicted felon, John Yakubu Yusuf, who stole billions of pension
fund.

A statement from the council’s spokesperson, Mr. Soji Oye, read

“The
National Judicial Council under the chairmanship of the Honourable Chief
Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, at its
meeting which was held on 24th and 25th April, 2013 suspended Honourable
Justice Abubakar Mahmud Talba of the FCT High Court from office for a
period of 12 months without pay.

Honourable Justice Talba was suspended from office sequel to the
findings by council that he did not exercise his discretion judicially
and judiciously with regard to the sentences he passed on one of the
accused persons, Mr. John Yakubu Yusuf, in the Police Pension case of
FRN Vs Esai Dangabar and 5 Ors.    



“It is recalled that the National Judicial Council at its emergency
meeting which was held on 20th February, 2013 set up a fact-finding
committee to investigate the allegations levelled against Honourable
Justice Talba in the Police Pension case of FRN Vs Esai Dangabar and 5
Ors.



“The council however, observed that the charges that had been brought
by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Mr. John
Y. Yusuf in the first charge sheet containing counts 1 to 10 under
Section 315 of the Penal Code that provides a maximum jail term of 14
years and fine, were dropped by the EFCC counsel and substituted with
another charge sheet with only three counts under Section 309 of the
Penal Code that moulds a lesser punishment of two years imprisonment
with or without option of fine.



“The National Judicial Council, in the exercise of its disciplinary
powers under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as
amended, also issues serious warning to Honourable Justice Talba to
desist from unreasonable exercise of judicial discretion in all matters
brought before him.