NGO Petitions NJC over Grand Khadi’s Failure to Retire

A non-governmental organisation has petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) against the failure of the Grand Khadi of the FCT Sharia Court, Ibrahim Rufai Imam, to retire aftet being due.

In the petition dated October 30, 2023 and signed by Onoja Johnson Baba of the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking accused Imam of overstaying his time in public service and a breach of Chapter 12 Rule 120243 of the Revised Federal Government Public Service Rules 2021 (PSR).

The NGO alleged that Khadi Imam ought to have retired from office just as Hon. Justice Tukur Argungu, the Grand Khadi of Kebbi State who had retired on 6th June, 2023.

The NGO also, in a separate letter to the NJC dated October 6, 2023 under the Freedom of Information Act demanded for the Retirement Notice of Khadi Imam.

“We are not unmindful of the signing into law of the amendment to the Constitution by the President in June 2023 extending the tenure of judges from 65 years to 70 years. However, it was certain that the Grand Khadi of Sharia Court of Appeal of the FCT was already in his retirement leave period when the bill extending the tenure of judges was stgned into law by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and same could not have been applicable to him,” Baba said.