The panel of inquiry set up by the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate the allegation of bribery and corruption against Justice Augustine Ade-Alabi, will resume sitting four months after it commenced hearing on the matter.

LAGOS – The three-man panel of inquiry set up by the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate the allegation of bribery and corruption levelled by ex-chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi and four others against a Lagos High Court judge, Justice Augustine Ade-Alabi, will on Thursday resume sitting four months after it commenced hearing on the matter.

The panel, led by its Chairman, Justice Bola Babalakin a former Supreme Court Judge, was given one-week within which to submit its findings and recommendation to NJC.

The panel during its sitting at the Apapa Court, had prevented journalists from covering its proceedings just as the recommendations were not made known.

But in a dramatic twist, NJC has directed that all parties involved should appear before it for the commencement of another hearing.

In a one-paragraph letter dated June 5, 2002 and signed by the acting Secretary to the council, Mrs Bilkisu Abdulmalik-Bashir, all the witnesses are to appear in person before the panel.

“Notice is hereby given that further sitting of the three-man panel of investigation set up by the National Judicial Council to investigate the allegation of bribery and corruption made by you (applicants) against Hon. A.A. Alabi of the High Court of Lagos State in your letter dated 30th January, 2002, shall continue in Apapa, Lagos from Thursday the 20th of June to Friday the 21st of June, 2002 at 10 a.m. on each day to hear the parties concerned,” the letter stated.

Besides Gen. Bamaiyi, others directed to appear before the panel in are former chief security officer to late Gen. Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, Mr James Danbaba, CSP Rabo Lawal and former military administrator of Zamfara State, Col Jubrin Yakubu, all complainants in the matter, all of whom are presently standing trial before the judge.

Justice Alabi, accused by the complainants, is expected to be at the sitting too.

Victor Efeizomor, This Day (Lagos), June 18, 2002