An anti-corruption coalition group, Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), has urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate the role of a retired judge, Honourable Justice George Oguntade, in the alleged bribery and corruption probe of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Justice Danladi Umar.

In a petition addressed to the NJC Chairman, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, by the CSNAC through its National Chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, the coalition urged the council to investigate the role of the retired Oguntade in the probe of Umar especially as it concerns how the retired judge was alleged to have tried to subvert the course of justice in favour of Mr. Rasheed Taiwo, a retired Comptroller of Customs who had a case with the tribunal.

Taking the cue of its call for the investigation of the retired justice from the transcript of an interview an online newspaper, Sahara Reporters, had with Umar, the CCT Chairman, and published on November 26, 2015, the group said a thorough investigation of what transpired between Oguntade, Umar and others will restore the confidence of ordinary Nigerians in the judicial system as the last hope of the common man.

According to an excerpt of the interview, the tribunal chairman revealed that the said Mr.Taiwo was introduced to him by Justice Oguntade.

CSNAC said: “Over the years, judges and other judicial officers have been criticised for engaging in various corrupt practices, which include making pronouncements that are at variance with provisions of the law, ignoring judicial precedents as well as giving judgments for a fee amongst others. These corrupt activities have no doubt caused a huge dent on the image of the bench, miscarriage of justice, as well as eroding the confidence of litigants in the judiciary.

“Former Nigeria Bar Association President Mr. J.B. Daudu SAN had some time ago described some judges as couriers, accusing some eminent retired justices of being the midwife between serving justices and litigants to sell judgements.”

“CSNAC is therefore by this petition demanding that the Council carries out its constitutional responsibility by conducting a thorough investigation into the alleged role of Justice Oguntade (Rtd.) in the matter and appropriate sanctions be handed down where he has been found culpable.

“This will not only restore the confidence of ordinary Nigerians in our judicial system as the last hope of the common man, it also show that the law is truly no respecter of persons and contribute greatly to ridding the bench of corruption; thereby returning the judiciary to its enviable status.”

•Photo shows NJC Chairman, Justice Mahmud Mohammed.