National Judicial Council Sacks 10 Judges
By Our Correspondent
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has ordered the compulsory retirement of 10 judges from the Imo State Judiciary. This decision was made during its 109th meeting on June 25, 2025.
The Judicial Council discovered nine judges had falsified their ages to remain in service longer than permitted.
Additionally, one judge was retired for agreeing to serve as acting Chief Judge despite being fourth in line for the position.
This decision affects the judges M. E. Nwagboso, B. C. Theka, K. A. Leaweanya, Okereke Chinyere Ngozi, Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi, Tennyson Nze, Ofoha Uchenna, Everyman Eleanya, and Rosemond Ibe. Justice T. N. Nzeukwu was also retired for improperly accepting the role of Chief Judge.
The NJC, led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, recommended 21 individuals for various judicial appointments nationwide. This includes new Heads of Courts for Ekiti and Yobe states and a nominee for the Code of Conduct Tribunal Chairman.
The new appointments include:
– Justice Adekanye Lekan Ogunmoye (Ekiti)
– Kadi Abba Mammadi (Yobe)
– Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar (Chairman, CCT)
– Edu Glory Bassey and Irem Melody Bassey for Cross River State
– Adebayo Julius Adewole, Adejumoke Oluwatoyin Adebo, and Oluyemisi Olukemi for Ogun State
– Garba Sirajo Aliyu, Bashir Rabi, and Abdullahi Nasiru for the Zamfara State High Court
– Ibrahim Jibril, Muhammed Sanusi Magami, and Shaa’ban Mansur for the Zamfara Sharia Court
– Badamasi Kabir Adam for the Plateau Sharia Court
– Ogodo Lynda Nneka for the Ebonyi Customary Court
– Dikko Fadila Muhammad, Abdulrahman Shamsudden Yammama, Abdullahi Maryham Umaru, and Mohammed Abubakar Dikko for the Katsina High Court
Meanwhile, the council cleared nine other judges in the state who were accused of age falsification. Three judges, Justice I. O. Agugua, Justice C. A. Ononeze-Madu, and Justice L. C. Azuama, were found to have no discrepancies in their records. Justice Vincent I. Onyeka and Justice Vivian O. B. Ekezie provided satisfactory explanations regarding their records. Four judges corrected their birth records in ways that did not benefit them: Justice P. U. Nodum, Justice Alma Ngozi Eluwa, Justice Matthew Chinedu Ijezie, and Justice Ononogbo Chidi Linus.
The NJC reiterated its earlier instruction to Governor Hope Uzodinma to swear in the most senior judge as the acting Chief Judge of Imo State.
Justice V. U. Okorie, the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, chaired the nomination panel but opposed Justice Nzeukwu’s irregular selection; he has since been cleared of any wrongdoing.
In a separate case, the NJC barred Justice Isaac J. Essien of the National Industrial Court from any three-year promotion due to misconduct, including issuing orders to confiscate over N1 billion belonging to Nasarawa State despite an ongoing appeal. His previous ties to the state university and personal interest in the case raised concerns about his conduct.
Additionally, the NJC approved the voluntary retirement of Justice Babatunde Ademola Bakre (Ogun) and Justice H. O. Ajayi (Kwara) and reviewed 30 petitions from its complaints committees. Four judges received warnings for various acts, such as judicial power misuse or judgment delivery delays. Two petitions were dismissed due to a lack of merit. Among those warned were Justice Rahman A. Oshodi for handling a Lagos case and Justice Daniel Okungbowa, Chief Judge of Edo State, for actions in a lawsuit dating back to 2020. Justice G. B. Okolosi of Delta State and Justice Sa’adatu I. Mark of the Federal High Court were also cautioned for failing to meet constitutional judgment deadlines.
The Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice M. A. Ikpambese, was cleared after the council dismissed three petitions against him, ruling that they were attempts to remove him from office.
The council decided to report the State’s Attorney-General, Fidelis Bemsen Mnyim, to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee for his alleged involvement in the plot.
Other petitions against Justices A. M. Liman, S. A. Amobeda, Muhammad Auwal Haruna, and Binta Fatima Murtala Nyako were dismissed, withdrawn, or lacked credible claims. Lastly, the NJC blocklisted a persistent petitioner, Peter N. Ekemezie, from submitting future complaints.
