NATIONAL JUDICIAL COUNCIL HON. JUSTICE UMARU ABDULLAHI HON. JUSTICE E. O. JACOB GRAND KHADI ABUBAKAR SALEH HAJIA RAKIA HON. JUSTICE ANTHONY IGUH (RTD) V. HON. JUSTICE JUBRIL BABAJIDE ALADEJANA THE ADMINISTRATOR, EKITI STATE THE HON. ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND COMMISSIONER OF JUSTICE EKITI STATE

EKANEM JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): The 1st respondent was appointed a judge of the High Court of Justice, Ekiti State, in November, 1998. In October, 2006, the Ekiti State House of Assembly served an impeachment notice on the Governor of Ekiti State and his deputy. The House of Assembly, at the expiration of the period stated in the notice requested the then chief judge of the state to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations contained in the impeachment notice. The honourable Chief Judge inaugurated a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations. Unhappy with the composition of the panel, the House of Assembly resolved on 11 October 2006 to suspend the honourable Chief Judge from his office. It also announced that the 1st respondent would hold forte as the Chief Judge Ekiti State. After the panel set up by the Honourable Chief Judge submitted its report clearing the Governor and his deputy, the 1st respondent set up a fresh seven-man panel to investigat…