Justice B. T. Ebuta of the High Court of Justice in Cross River State has been disciplined by the National Judicial Council, NJC.
Justice Ebuta’s suspension was announced on Friday in a statement signed by the Acting Director of Information at the NJC, Soji Oye.
He was asked to remain at home pending when the state governor, Ben Ayade, will approve approves his recommendation by the NJC for compulsory retirement.
The judge got the big hammer of the Council for alleged judicial misconduct and his suspension is will immediate effect.
It was learnt that the NJC, headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, took the decision after its 76th meeting which held in Abuja on June 1 and 2, 2016.
“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 who alleged:- ‘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.
“She stated 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 favour on 10th November, 2014.”
