JSC Suspends Chief Magistrate Over Abuse Of Power, Bribery
Chief Magistrate Vincent W. Gwahemba has been suspended by the Judicial Service Commission in Nasarawa State following allegations of bribery and abuse of power.
The suspension was communicated officially to the magistrate through a letter dated January 30, 2024.
The magistrate is to respond within 24 hours to the charges levelled against him.
He was also mandated to appear before the Judicial Commission at a later date, which will be communicated, to present his side of the story regarding the allegations.
The letter noted that the suspension was effective immediately and would remain in place pending the investigation into the misconduct charges.
A senior lawyer, J.S. Okutepa, SAN filed a complaint about the magistrate.
The complaint, addressed to the Chief Registrar of the state’s High Court of Justice, accuses Gwahemba of gross misconduct, bias, and delivering a ruling that led to the unlawful detention of a suspect without justification.
