Legal advocacy group Access to Justice has demanded that the National Judicial Council (NJC) disclose the status of a past judicial misconduct petition against Court of Appeal Justice Chidiebere Uwa.

Justice Uwa was recently nominated for elevation to the Supreme Court bench. However, Access to Justice notes there are still unresolved abuse of office allegations against her from 2005 when she was an Abia State High Court judge.

According to Access to Justice Convener Joseph Otteh, the NJC has failed to respond to queries if it ever properly investigated the 2005 complaint by one Dr. G.C. Duru accusing Justice Uwa of “extortion, bribery and intimidation.”

Duru had provided evidence of bank transactions showing funds solicited by Justice Uwa allegedly on behalf of a charity. A subsequent ICPC probe found evidence of misconduct but ruled there was no criminal intent.

With Justice Uwa now up for Supreme Court appointment, Access to Justice wrote NJC in 2022 seeking clarification if she violated judicial ethics. But the NJC is yet to address the concerns over her conduct.

Access to Justice argues that leaving the allegations unaddressed compromises the credibility of appointments to the apex court. It has now sent a reminder asking the NJC to provide insight into how Justice Uwa’s nomination squares with the pending questions about her integrity while on the bench.

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