The National Judicial Council, NJC, has given approval for the immediate compulsory retirement of ten judges serving in the Imo State Judiciary.
In a detailed statement released late Thursday night, the NJC said that nine of the affected judges were found to have altered their dates of birth with the intention of staying in office longer than allowed. The Council also ordered the retirement of Justice T. N.
Nzeukwu for accepting an appointment as Acting Chief Judge of Imo State, despite not being the most senior judge, in what the NJC described as a violation of constitutional procedure.
Justice Nzeukwu was noted to have acted against Section 271 (4) of the Nigerian Constitution, which clearly defines the order of seniority in appointing an Acting Chief Judge.
According to the NJC, the nine judges involved in age falsification include five High Court Judges — Justices M. E. Nwagboso, B. C. Iheka, K. A. Leaweanya, Okereke Chinyere Ngozi, and Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi — as well as four Judges from the Customary Court of Appeal: Justices Tennyson Nze, Ofoha Uchenna, Everyman Eleanya, and Rosemond Ibe.
The statement read: “Hon. Justice T. N. Nzeukwu was sanctioned for making himself available to be sworn into office as acting Chief Judge of Imo State.”
Although Justice V. U. Okorie, President of the Customary Court of Appeal in Imo, headed the commission that recommended Justice Nzeukwu, the NJC cleared him of wrongdoing, stating that he had objected to the nomination in official records.
The NJC once again told Governor Hope Uzodinma to follow its earlier directive and swear in the most senior judge in the state as Acting Chief Judge.
These decisions came after the NJC reviewed findings from its Investigation Committee, which had looked into allegations of age falsification involving 18 judges in Imo State. The Council also reviewed responses from Justices V. U. Okorie and T. N. Nzeukwu.
Meanwhile, three High Court judges — Justices I. O. Agugua, C. A. Ononeze-Madu, and L. C. Azuama — were cleared after their birth records were found to be in order.
Two other judges, Justices Vincent Onyeka and Vivian Ekezie, were also cleared after giving acceptable explanations for the inconsistencies in their birth dates. They were instructed to continue using the dates submitted to the Council of Legal Education.
In addition, four judges were absolved because their corrected birth records actually reduced their years in service rather than extending them. They are Justices P. U. Nnodum, Alma Ngozi Eluwa, Matthew Chinedu Ijezie, and Ononogbo Chidi Linus.
At its 109th meeting on June 25, the NJC, led by Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, also recommended new judicial appointments. Mr. Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar was put forward for the role of Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Also recommended were Hon. Justice Adekanye Lekan Ogunmoye as Chief Judge of Ekiti State and Hon. Kadi Abba Mammadi as Grand Kadi of Yobe State.
The NJC said the recommendations came after interviews and careful review of public comments about the shortlisted candidates. It confirmed that 86 public responses were received, of which 73 were supportive.
A total of 18 new judges were proposed for various states across Nigeria, including Cross River, Ogun, Zamfara, Plateau, Ebonyi, and Katsina. The appointments cover both High Courts and Sharia and Customary Courts of Appeal.
Lastly, the Council also accepted the voluntary retirements of Hon. Justice Babatunde Bakre of the Ogun High Court and Hon. Justice H. O. Ajayi of the Kwara High Court.
