The National Judicial Council (NJC) has sent Nine judges of Imo State Judiciary on compulsory retirement for age falsifications and mischief.
The NJC took the decision at its 109th meeting presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat M. O. Kekere-Ekun on June 25, 2025.
Eight of the affected judges are five high court judges who include Justice M. E. Nwagboso, Justice B. C. Theka, Justice K. A. Leaweanya, Justice Okereke Chinyere Ngozi and Justice Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi as well as three Customary Court of Appeal judges who include Justice Ofoha Uchenna, Hon Justice Everyman Eleanya and Justice Rosemond Ibe.
The ninth judge is Justice T. N. Nzeukwu was found to have made himself available to be sworn in as acting Chief Judge of Imo State High Court knowing fully well that he was number four in the hierarchy of Judges of the Imo State Judiciary and contrary to Section 271.
According to the NJC, “the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Imo State, Justice V. U. Okorie who chaired the Commission that nominated Justice Nzeukwu as acting Chief Judge was however absolved, having dissented on record against the recommendation to appoint Nzeukwu as acting Chief Judge.”
The Council has also directed Governor Hope Uzodinma to swear in the most Senior Judge of the state as the acting Chief Judge.
Council took the decision after consideration of the reports of its Investigation Committee on allegations of age falsification against eighteen (18) Judges of the Imo state judiciary on the one hand and the queries issued to Hon. Justices V. U. Okorie and T. N. Nzeukwu.
The Council however dismissed allegations against three judges of the state High Court whose dates of birth had no discrepancy, just as six High Court Judges of the State, whose dates of birth either had discrepancies but with acceptable explanations or with discrepancies arising from genuine correction of their dates of birth to their disadvantage, were also exonerated.
Justice .I O. Agugua, Justice C. A. Ononeze-Madu and were the ones whose dates of birth were found to bear no discrepancy while Justice Vincent I. Onyeka and Justice Vivian O. B. Ekezie were given a clean bill of health owing to provision of acceptable explanation for no wrong doing.
The NJC also recommended Justice Adekanye Lekan Ogunmoye, to be named as the Chief Judge of Ekiti State; and Kadi Abba Mammadi as Grand Kadi, Yobe State.
Also recommended was Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar, Esq. to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointment as Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The council said it made the recommendation after “a careful consideration of various public complaints made against shortlisted candidates for the various positions and a rigorous interview by an eight mmber Interview Committee of the Council in line with the 2023 Revised NJC Guidelines and Procedural Appointment of Judicial Officers.”
Meanwhile, the Council has approved the voluntary retirement of Justice Babatunde Ademola Bakre of the Ogun State High Court. And Justice H. O. Ajayi of the Kwara State High Court.
Justice P. U. Nodum, Justice Alma Ngozi Eluwa, Justice Matthew Chinedu Ijezie and Justice Ononogbo Chidi Linus were absolved on account that they genuinely corrected their dates of birth to their disadvantage.
It would be recalled that the Council had at its 108th Meeting held on April 29 – 30, 2025, approved a new policy to publish the names of candidates for consideration for appointment as judicial officers and invited public input.
Consequently, it said it received 86 public comments and complaints with 73 of them were favourable representing 85%, while 13 were adverse representing 15%.
It said of the 13 complaints, five had no accompanying verifying affidavits in breach of the publication guidelines and were not considered.
The council said “in view of the Council’s resolution, at its 27h Emergency Meeting held on 3 February 2025, relating to the appointment of the Chief Judge, Ekiti State, Council did not consider the three complaints relating thereto.
“Five complaints were considered against the appointment relating to the High Courts of Plateau and Kano States and the Sharia Courts of Appeal of Zamfara and Katsina States.
“Flowing from this, Council dismissed four of the complaints, but found merit in one and dropped the affected candidate.”
