NJC Sacks 10 Imo Judges for Age Falsification, Recommends 21 Appointments

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has compulsorily retired 10 judges in Imo State for falsifying their ages and engaging in other unethical practices, following its 109th meeting presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

The NJC stated that the affected judges manipulated their official dates of birth to extend their tenure beyond the legal limit. Those dismissed include five judges from the High Court—Justices M.E. Nwagboso, B.C. Iheka, K.A. Leaweanya, Chinyere Ngozi Okereke, and Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi—and four from the Customary Court of Appeal—Justices Tennyson Nze, Uchenna Ofoha, Everyman Eleanya, and Rosemond Ibe.

In addition, Justice T.N. Nzeukwu was compulsorily retired for breaching the constitution by submitting himself for appointment as Acting Chief Judge of Imo State, despite being fourth in the order of seniority. This action violates Section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution.

The NJC reiterated its directive to Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, to appoint the most senior judge in the state judiciary as Acting Chief Judge. Justice V.U. Okorie, President of the Imo Customary Court of Appeal, who chaired the panel that nominated Nzeukwu, was exonerated after officially dissenting from the decision.

New Judicial Appointments

In a bid to strengthen the judiciary, the NJC also recommended 21 individuals for various judicial appointments across multiple states and courts:

Ekiti State: Justice Adekanye Lekan Ogunmoye – Chief Judge

Yobe State: Kadi Abba Mammadi – Grand Kadi

Code of Conduct Tribunal: Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar, Esq. – Chairman

Other appointments include:

Cross River High Court: Edu Glory Bassey, Irem Melody Bassey

Ogun High Court: Ojikutu Adebayo Julius, Adewole Adejumoke Oluwatoyin, Adebo Oluyemisi Olukemi

Zamfara High Court: Garba Sirajo Aliyu, Bashir Rabi, Abdullahi Nasiru

Zamfara Sharia Court of Appeal: Ibrahim Jibril, Muhammed Sanusi Magami, Shaa’ban Mansur

Plateau Sharia Court of Appeal: Badamasi Kabir Adam

Ebonyi Customary Court of Appeal: Ogodo Lynda Nneka

Katsina High Court: Dikko Fadila Muhammad, Abdulrahman Shamsudden Yammama, Abdullahi Maryham Umaru, Mohammed Abubakar Dikko

These recommendations followed a rigorous review process in line with NJC’s April 2025 transparency policy, during which 86 public comments were received—73 favourable and 13 adverse (five of which were dismissed on procedural grounds).

Disciplinary Actions

The NJC also sanctioned several judges for various professional misconduct:

Justice Isaac J. Essien (National Industrial Court): Barred from elevation for three years due to issuing a confiscation order while an appeal and stay of execution were pending, and for using official channels for personal entitlements.

Justice Rahman A. Oshodi (Lagos State): Cautioned over misuse of judicial discretion.

Justice Daniel Okungbowa (Edo State Chief Judge): Warned for abuse of discretion.

Justice G.B. Okolosi (Delta State): Given a final warning for repeatedly breaching Section 294(1) of the Constitution.

Justice Sa’adatu I. Mark (Federal High Court): Cautioned for failing to deliver a judgment within the constitutionally required 90-day window.

Several other judges were cleared of wrongdoing, including Justices A.M. Liman, S.A. Amobeda, Muhammad Auwal Haruna, and Binta Fatima Murtala Nyako, following merit-based reviews or voluntary petition withdrawals.

Justice M.A. Ikpambese, Chief Judge of Benue State, was also exonerated. However, the NJC resolved to report the Benue State Attorney-General, Fidelis Bemsen Mnyim, to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for attempting to influence judicial decisions.

The NJC has also blacklisted a serial petitioner, Peter N. Ekemezie, from submitting any future complaints to the Council.

The Council accepted the voluntary retirement of Justice Babatunde Ademola Bakre (Ogun High Court) and Justice H.O. Ajayi (Kwara High Court).