The National Judicial Council has recommended the compulsory retirement of 10 judges of the Imo State Judiciary for falsifying their age and altering records of service.
Breakdowns of offences show that nine altered their dates of birth in their official records to gain undue advantage of staying longer in service, and Justice T. N. Nzeukwu made himself available to be sworn in as acting Chief Judge of Imo State High Court knowing full well that he was number four in the hierarchy of Judges of the Imo State Judiciary. This violates Section 271 (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
The nine Judges found to have falsified their records comprised five High Court Judges and four Judges of the Customary Court of Appeal, Imo State.
They are Hon Justice M. E. Nwagboso (High Court), Hon Justice B. C. Iheka (High Court), Hon Justice K. A. Leaweanya (High Court), Hon Justice Okereke Chinyere Ngozi (High Court), Hon Justice Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi (High Court), Hon Justice Tennyson Nze (Customary Court of Appeal), Hon Justice Ofoha Uchenna (Customary Court of Appeal), Hon Justice Everyman Eleanya (Customary Court of Appeal), and Hon Justice Rosemond Ibe (Customary Court of Appeal).
Hon. Justice T. N. Nzeukwu was sanctioned for making himself available to be sworn in as acting Chief Judge of Imo State. The recommendations, including the appointments of two Judges as Heads of Court for Ekiti and Yobe States, respectively, were made on Wednesday at the 109th meeting of the National Judicial Council (NJC) presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat M. O. Kekere-Ekun. They are contained in a statement by Kemi Babalola Ogedengbe, Deputy Director (Information) of the National Judicial Council (NJC).
The Heads of Court are: Hon. Justice Adekanye Lekan Ogunmoye, Chief Judge, Ekiti State, and Hon. Kadi Abba Mammadi as Grand Kadi, Yobe State.
Similarly, the Council has also recommended Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for appointment as Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The recommendations are made after careful consideration of various public complaints made against shortlisted candidates for various positions and a rigorous interview by an 8-member Interview Committee of the Council in line with the 2023 Revised NJC Guidelines and Procedural Rules for Appointment of Judicial Officers.
The remaining successful 18 candidates who were recommended for appointment as Judges for different Jurisdictions are Edu Glory Bassey, Irem Melody Bassey, Ojikutu Adebayo Julius, Adewole Adejumoke Oluwatoyin, and Adebo Oluyemisi Olukemi.
Others are Garba Sirajo Aliyu, Bashir Rabi, Abdullahi Nasiru, Ibrahim Jibril, Muhammad Sanusi Magami, Shaa’ban Mansur, Badamasi Kabir Adam, Ogodo Lynda Nneka, Dikko Fadila Muhammad, Abdulrahman Shamsudden Yammama, Abdullahi Maryham Umaru, and Mohammed Abubakar Dikko.
The council approved a new policy at its 108th Meeting, held on 29 and 30 April 2025, to publish the names of candidates for consideration for appointment as Judicial Officers and invited public input.
The council received 86 public comments and complaints, and 73 of them were favourable, representing 85 per cent, while 13 were adverse, representing 15 per cent.
However, out of the 13 complaints, 5 had no accompanying verifying affidavits in breach of the publication guidelines and were not considered.
Given the Council’s resolution at its 27th Emergency Meeting held on 3 February 2025, relating to the appointment of the Chief Judge, Ekiti State, the Council did not consider the three complaints relating thereto.
