Indian reports Nigerian judge to judicial regulatory body

Abuja, Aug 12 (PTI) An Indian national here has reported
a Nigerian federal high court judge to the country's judicial
ombudsman, accusing him of seeking a bribe in a case pending
before him.

Satish Chander Kashyap, director of the company Shinning
Star Nigeria Limited, has alleged that Justice Tijani Abubakar
of the Lagos federal high court demanded 20 per cent of the
recoverable amount from a claim pending before him.

Kashyap, who reported to the National Judicial Council
(NJC), said he was claiming more than N 300 million (Rs 93
million) from a joint venture, a case being heard by Abubakar.

In a petition, Chandra alleged that Abubakar through a
proxy demanded 20 per cent of the 300 million Naira.

Kashyap wrote: "Sometime in 2006, I had a problem with
my Indian Joint Venture Partner, AKS Steel Nigeria Limited,
who later became the defendant in the suit... pending before
Justice Abubakar and I mentioned it to an old friend who took
me to Justice Abubakar whom I never met before".

He said after hearing the details of the problem
Abubakar advised him to go to the court.

Kashyap said the judge introduced him to lawyer Aite
Okogie, who filed the proceedings and the case surprisingly
came up for hearing in Justice Abubakar's court.

The judge granted ex-parte order to appoint a Deputy
Chief Registrar as receiver/manager of ASK Steel Nigeria
Limited on January 19, 2007.

Kashyap alleged that three days after the order was
granted, he received a letter requesting for the additional
payment.

NJC has the power to discipline judges who engage in
corruption and whose judgments are questionable in Nigeria.
PTI CORR