The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the compulsory retirement of two prominent judges following findings of serious judicial misconduct. The council’s decisions were made during its 107th meeting, held on November 13 and 14, 2024, under the leadership of Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
The judges facing compulsory retirement are Justice T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka, the Chief Judge of Imo State, and Kadi Babagana Mahdi, the Grand Kadi of Yobe State. Both have been accused of falsifying their ages. Justice Chikeka was found to have listed conflicting birth dates: October 27, 1956, and October 27, 1958. Although the 1956 date appeared to be consistent, Justice Chikeka reportedly swore to an affidavit in 2006 to change it to 1958.
Kadi Mahdi, on the other hand, was found to have three different birth dates: December 10, January 28, and July, all in 1959. His true date of birth, however, was determined to be in 1952.
In addition to the retirements, the NJC has suspended two other judges for a period of one year without pay. Justice G. C. Aguma from the High Court of Rivers State and Justice A. O. Nwabunike from the High Court of Anambra State were both suspended for misconduct. They will also be placed on a “Watch-List” for two years.
Justice Aguma’s misconduct involved helping a litigant to bypass the proper legal procedures in a judgment enforcement case. He granted a garnishee order too quickly, without addressing critical legal concerns, including a stay of execution on the judgment.
Justice Nwabunike of Anambra was found to have violated judicial conduct rules, including making improper ex parte orders and misinterpreting legal terms.
The NJC’s statement also revealed that it has reviewed 30 complaints and taken action on several, including launching investigations into complaints against Hon. Justice O. A. Ojo, Chief Judge of Osun State.
The statement read, “The Council also empanelled a committee to investigate all complaints and petitions against Hon. Justice O. A. Ojo, Chief Judge, Osun State.
“The council also empanelled a Committee to investigate all complaints and petitions against Hon. Justice O. A. Ojo, Chief Judge, Osun State.
“The council’s findings revealed that Justice G. C. Aguma committed acts of misconduct by aiding a litigant who obtained a judgment at the FCT High Court, Abuja, and filed a garnishee against judgement debtors in Bori Division of the High Court, Rivers State.
“The council finds that Justice Aguma failed to raise any query as to why the garnishee proceedings were brought to his Court in Bori for a money judgment that could effectively be enforced in Abuja.
“That the judgment was delivered on 15 July 2020, at the High Court of the FCT, while the certificate of judgment was registered at the Bori Division of the High Court of Rivers State on 16 July 2020.
“The council further finds that the speed with which the Hon. Justice Aguma took and granted the order absolute against the judgment debtors showed that he had an interest, especially as he failed to take into consideration the stay of execution of the judgment granted in favour of the judgement debtors by the Bwari High Court, which had been brought to his attention.”
On his part, the council found Justice Nwabunike of Anambra State to have breached the provision of Rule 3.1 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2016.
“He also failed to adhere to the principle of stare decisis from his different interpretation of the word “aspirant” and abused his judicial powers by granting ex parte orders without a Motion on Notice filed along with the Originating Summons,” the statement read.
