The National Judicial Council (NJC) has approved the compulsory retirement of 10 judges of the Imo state judiciary.
In a statement on Thursday, the council said nine of the
judges falsified their dates of birth while the 10th judge, Theophilus Nzeukwu,
was indicted for allowing himself to be sworn in as Imo’s acting chief judge
illegally.
“Nine (9) of the affected judges of the Imo state judiciary
were found to have altered their dates of birth in their official records in
order to confer on themselves the undue advantage of staying longer in
service,” the statement reads.
“While the other judicial officer, Hon. Justice T. N.
Nzeukwu was found to have made himself available to be sworn in as acting chief
judge of Imo state high court knowing fully well that he was number four in the
hierarchy of judges of the Imo state judiciary and contrary to Section 271 (4)
of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.”
The affected judges include M. E. Nwagboso (high court), B.
C. Iheka (high court), K. A. Leaweanya (high court), Okereke Chinyere Ngozi (High
Court), Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi (high court), Tennyson Nze (customary court of
appeal), Ofoha Uchenna (customary court of appeal), Everyman Eleanya (customary
court of appeal), and Rosemond Ibe (customary court of appeal).
The council reiterated its earlier directive to Hope
Uzodimma, Imo governor, wherein he was told to swear in the most senior judge
of the state as the acting chief judge.
In further deliberation, the NJC barred Isaac J. Essien, a
judge of the National Industrial Court (NIC), from being considered for
promotion to a higher court for three years due to misconduct.
“Council found that Hon. justice Essien wrongly ordered the
confiscation of over N1 billion belonging to the Nasarawa state government and
its local government councils, despite being aware that there was a pending
appeal and a pending application for stay of execution,” the statement added.
“Council also noted that he refused to step aside from the
case after the Nasarawa state government raised concerns about possible bias.
“Hon. justice Essien was a former staff member of the State
University, which owed him gratuity, and he had earlier demanded payment using
the official letterhead of the Court — a clear breach of Code of Conduct for
Judicial Officers.”
The NJC also considered the reports of its preliminary
complaints assessment committees, which contained 30 petitions against various
judicial officers.
Four committees were empanelled for further investigation,
four judges were cautioned, while 22 petitions were dismissed for lacking
merit.
The council cautioned Rahman Oshodi, Lagos high court judge,
over the misuse of judicial discretion in Suit No. ID/232/53C/23.
Daniel Okungbowa, chief judge of Edo state, was also
cautioned over abuse of his judicial discretion in Suit No. B1/555/2020 and was
advised to exercise his discretion judicially and judiciously in future.
The council issued a final warning to G. B. Okolosi, justice
of the Delta state high court, for “continued flouting” of Section 294 (1) of
the 1999 Constitution.
Sa’adatu Mark, justice of the federal high court, received a
caution for delivering judgment after the constitutionally permissible 90 days.
The council recommended Adekanye Lekan Ogunmoye for
appointment as chief judge of Ekiti state and Abba Mammadi as grand kadi of
Yobe state.
Similarly, the council recommended Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo
Umar to President Bola Tinubu for appointment as chairman of the Code of
Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
Below is a full list of 18 candidates who were recommended
for appointment as judges for different jurisdictions.
TWO HIGH COURT JUDGES
FOR CROSS RIVER STATE
Edu, Glory Bassey
Irem, Melody Bassey
THREE HIGH COURT
JUDGES FOR OGUN STATE
Ojikutu, Adebayo Julius
Adewole, Adejumoke Oluwatoyin
Adebo, Oluyemisi Olukemi
THREE HIGH COURT
JUDGES FOR ZAMFARA STATE
Garba, Sirajo Aliyu
Bashir, Rabi
Abdullahi, Nasiru
THREE KADIS FOR
SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, ZAMFARA STATE
Ibrahim, Jibril
Muhammed, Sanusi Magami
Shaa’ban Mansur
ONE KADI FOR SHARIA
COURT OF APPEAL, PLATEAU STATE
Badamasi, Kabir Adam
ONE JUDGE FOR
CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, EBONYI STATE
Ogodo, Lynda Nneka
FOUR HIGH COURT
JUDGES FOR KATSINA STATE
Dikko, Fadila Muhammad
Abdulrahman, Shamsudden Yammama
Abdullahi, Maryham Umaru
Mohammed, Abubakar Dikko
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