Justice Talba, who freed pension thief, suspended for one year

The suspension follows a controversial judgment by Justice Talba.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, has approved the suspension of Justice Abubakar Talba of the FCT High Court, Gudu, Abuja.

The 12-month suspension follows the controversial judgement delivered by the judge in respect of John Yusufu who was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over an alleged N32.8 billion Police Pension Fraud.

Mr. Yusufu, who pleaded guilty to three-counts of theft of the pension funds, was jailed two years on each count; but asked to pay a fine of N250, 000 on each. He paid the fine and was set free although the EFCC later re-arrested him for another charge.

The commission later said Mr. Talba violated an agreement all parties had that Mr. Yusufu was to be jailed without an option of fine.