The National Judicial Council presided over by Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, appointed 15 committees to look into claims of misconduct against judges of the Federal and State Courts at its 99th meeting on November 30 and December 1, 2022.
The decision follows the submission of recommendations from three preliminary complaint assessment committees, which looked at 66 petitions sent to them by the Council from across the Federation, according to a statement signed by the director of information, Soji Oye, Esq.
The petitions against 51 judges from the Federal and State High Courts, however, were denied by the Council because they lacked merit, were pending cases, were appealable, or the judge in question had left the bench.
The new Judicial Information Technology Policy, which set the general needs and responsibilities for the Nigerian Judiciary systems and information, was formally submitted to Council.
In order to maintain the Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA) of judicial function and process, the policy offers guidelines to courts and judicial bodies. Additionally, it contains provisions for the secure storage of judicial data and recovery procedures in the event of emergencies or distress, as well as guidelines for the appropriate use of systems, services, and technologies. It also offers recommendations and incident management procedures, such as those for the implementation and utilization of data centers.
The Scope is intended for all Courts and Judicial Bodies in Nigeria including staff of the Nigerian judiciary, employed or contracted to any Judicial Body handling information that is generated, received, stored, transmitted, or printed. It encompasses all personal or Judiciary identifiable data held in their Courts and Judicial Bodies’ systems and process including supporting mechanisms and technologies for managing such data at rest or in transit.
All staff are expected to comply with the policy and associated standard protocols and procedures that have been put in place to support the document.
The appointments of judicial officers who were recommended for appointment at the last meeting and who have now taken the oath of office as judges of the Federal and State High Courts were recorded by the council.
At the meeting, reports from the Council’s standing and special committees as well as notices of the retirement of 16 judges and the death of a judge from the Federal and State High Courts were also distributed.