By Sam Kutos
Newspointer, Abuja | June 27, 2025
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has compulsorily retired ten judges in Imo State over age falsification and other unethical practices, marking one of the most sweeping disciplinary actions in recent years.
In a statement issued Thursday following its 109th meeting presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the Council disclosed that the judges—five from the High Court and four from the Customary Court of Appeal—manipulated their official dates of birth to unlawfully extend their tenure.
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The affected High Court judges are Justices M.E. Nwagboso, B.C. Iheka, K.A. Leaweanya, Chinyere Ngozi Okereke, and Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi. From the Customary Court of Appeal, those sanctioned include Justices Tennyson Nze, Uchenna Ofoha, Everyman Eleanya, and Rosemond Ibe.
In a separate case, Justice T.N. Nzeukwu was also compulsorily retired for presenting himself for appointment as acting Chief Judge of Imo State despite being fourth in line of seniority—an action that contravenes Section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution.
The NJC reaffirmed its earlier directive to Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State to immediately appoint the most senior judge in the state judiciary as acting Chief Judge, in accordance with constitutional provisions.
Justice V.U. Okorie, President of the Imo Customary Court of Appeal, was cleared of wrongdoing after the Council found that although he chaired the commission that nominated Nzeukwu, he had officially dissented.
New Appointments and Transparency Measures
The Council also announced the recommendation of 21 judicial candidates for appointment across various jurisdictions, among them:
Justice Adekanye Lekan Ogunmoye as Chief Judge of Ekiti State
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Kadi Abba Mammadi as Grand Kadi of Yobe State
Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar, Esq., as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal
Other recommended 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
The Council stated that it received 86 public responses to its shortlist of candidates, a result of its transparency policy introduced in April 2025. Of these, 73 were favorable, while five out of 13 critical submissions were dismissed due to procedural irregularities.
Justice Isaac J. Essien of the National Industrial Court was barred from elevation for three years for misconduct. Offences included issuing a confiscation order on N1 billion in Nasarawa State government funds while an appeal and a stay of execution were pending. He also reportedly used official court letterhead for personal matters and visited a registry to check the status of his own case.
Other disciplinary actions included:
Justice Rahman A. Oshodi (Lagos) – cautioned for misuse of discretion
Justice Daniel Okungbowa (Edo) – warned for abuse of discretion
Justice G.B. Okolosi (Delta) – issued a final warning for repeated constitutional breaches
Justice Sa’adatu I. Mark (Federal High Court) – cautioned for delayed judgment beyond the constitutionally allowed 90-day period
The NJC dismissed petitions against four judges—Justices A.M. Liman, S.A. Amobeda, Muhammad Auwal Haruna, and Binta Fatima Murtala Nyako—due to lack of merit or voluntary withdrawal by petitioners.
Justice M.A. Ikpambese, Chief Judge of Benue State, was also exonerated, while the Council resolved to report Benue Attorney-General Fidelis Bemsen Mnyim to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for allegedly attempting to unduly influence the judiciary.
The Council further blacklisted a known serial petitioner, Peter N. Ekemezie, from submitting any future complaints to the NJC.
The Council accepted the voluntary retirement of Justice Babatunde Ademola Bakre of the Ogun State High Court and Justice H.O. Ajayi of the Kwara State High Court.
