NJC Retires 10 Judges Over Age Falsification

National Judicial Council

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has ordered the compulsory retirement of 10 judges in Imo State for falsifying their ages and engaging in unethical practices.

In a statement released on Thursday, June 26, after its 109th meeting chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the NJC confirmed that five High Court judges and four from the Customary Court of Appeal were found guilty of altering their official birth records to unlawfully extend their tenure.

The affected High Court judges are Justices M.E. Nwagboso, B.C. Iheka, K.A. Leaweanya, Chinyere Ngozi Okereke, and Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi. Those from the Customary Court of Appeal include Justices Tennyson Nze, Uchenna Ofoha, Everyman Eleanya, and Rosemond Ibe.

Justice T.N. Nzeukwu was also retired for violating constitutional provisions by presenting himself for appointment as acting Chief Judge, despite being fourth in line by seniority.

The NJC reaffirmed its directive to Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma to appoint the most senior judge as acting Chief Judge. It also cleared Justice V.U. Okorie, who chaired the nomination panel, noting that he officially dissented from the decision.

New Judicial Appointments

The Council recommended 21 judicial candidates across various jurisdictions, including:

• Justice Adekanye Lekan Ogunmoye as Chief Judge of Ekiti State

• Kadi Abba Mammadi as Grand Kadi of Yobe State

• Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar, Esq., as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal

Other appointees were recommended for courts in Cross River, Ogun, Zamfara, Plateau, Ebonyi, and Katsina states.

In line with its transparency policy, the NJC reviewed 86 public submissions on the shortlisted nominees, with 73 in favor. Of the 13 objections, five were dismissed due to procedural irregularities.

Sanctions and Disciplinary Measures

Justice Isaac J. Essien of the National Industrial Court has been barred from promotion for three years due to serious misconduct, including issuing a confiscation order on N1 billion belonging to the Nasarawa State Government while an appeal and stay of execution were pending. He also misused court letterhead for personal claims and visited the registry to track an appeal conduct deemed highly inappropriate.

Other judges disciplined include:

• Justice Rahman A. Oshodi (Lagos), cautioned for judicial overreach

• Justice Daniel Okungbowa (Edo Chief Judge), warned for discretionary abuse

• Justice G.B. Okolosi (Delta), issued a final warning for delay in delivering judgments

• Justice Sa’adatu I. Mark (Federal High Court), cautioned for exceeding the constitutionally mandated 90-day limit for delivering rulings

Petitions against four other judges Justices A.M. Liman, S.A. Amobeda, Muhammad Auwal Haruna, and Binta Fatima Murtala Nyako were dismissed for lack of merit or voluntary withdrawal by the complainants.

Justice M.A. Ikpambese, Chief Judge of Benue State, was cleared of wrongdoing, while the Benue Attorney-General, Fidelis Bemsen Mnyim, will be reported to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for attempting to influence judicial processes.

The NJC also blacklisted serial petitioner Peter N. Ekemezie from filing further complaints and accepted the voluntary retirement of Justices Babatunde Ademola Bakre (Ogun) and H.O. Ajayi (Kwara).

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