National Judicial Council (NJC) retires 10 judges accused of altering their dates of birth to extend their tenure.

Friday, June 27, 2025 - The National Judicial Council (NJC) has compulsorily retired 10 judges in Imo state for age falsification and other unethical practices.

 In a statement issued on Thursday June 26 after its 109th meeting and presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the Council said the affected judges, five from the High Court and four from the Customary Court of Appeal, were sanctioned after it was affirmed that they altered their dates of birth in official records to illegally extend their tenure.

The affected High Court judges are Justices M.E. Nwagboso, B.C. Iheka, K.A. Leaweanya, Chinyere Ngozi Okereke, and Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi.

Those from the Customary Court of Appeal include Justices Tennyson Nze, Uchenna Ofoha, Everyman Eleanya, and Rosemond Ibe.

Also, Hon. Justice T.N. Nzeukwu was compulsorily retired for submitting himself for appointment as acting Chief Judge of Imo State, despite being fourth in seniority—a violation of Section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution.

The NJC reiterated its earlier directive to Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, to swear in the most senior judge of the state judiciary as acting Chief Judge.

It exonerated Justice V.U. Okorie, President of the Imo Customary Court of Appeal, who chaired the commission that nominated Nzeukwu but officially dissented.

Meanwhile, the Council has recommended 21 candidates for judicial appointment across several jurisdictions, including the appointments of Justice Adekanye Lekan Ogunmoye as Chief Judge of Ekiti State and Kadi Abba Mammadi as Grand Kadi of Yobe State.

Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar, Esq., was also recommended for appointment as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

Others recommended include: Cross River High Court – Edu Glory Bassey and Irem Melody Bassey; Ogun High Court – Ojikutu Adebayo Julius, Adewole Adejumoke Oluwatoyin, and Adebo Oluyemisi Olukemi; Zamfara High Court – Garba Sirajo Aliyu, Bashir Rabi, and Abdullahi Nasiru; Zamfara Sharia Court of Appeal – Ibrahim Jibril, Muhammed Sanusi Magami, and 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, and Mohammed Abubakar Dikko.

The NJC noted that it had received 86 public comments on shortlisted candidates in line with its April 2025 policy of transparency in appointments.

Of these, 73 were favourable, while five of the 13 adverse ones were dismissed for procedural defects.

On the other hand, the NJC barred Hon. Justice Isaac J. Essien of the National Industrial Court from elevation for three years over multiple breaches, including issuing a confiscation order on N1 billion belonging to the Nasarawa State Government while a related appeal and stay of execution were pending.

The Council also found that Justice Essien had used the court’s official letterhead to pursue personal entitlement and personally visited a court registry to verify an appeal, actions it described as “grossly inappropriate.”

Five other judges faced various levels of sanction: Justice Rahman A. Oshodi was cautioned for misuse of discretion in Lagos (Suit No. ID/232/53C/23); Justice Daniel Okungbowa, Chief Judge of Edo, was warned over abuse of discretion (Suit No. B1/555/2020); Justice G.B. Okolosi of Delta State received a final warning for repeated breaches of Section 294(1) of the Constitution and Justice Sa’adatu I. Mark of the Federal High Court was cautioned for late delivery of judgment beyond the constitutional 90-day limit.

The Council also dismissed petitions against four federal and state judges, including Justice A.M. Liman, Justice S.A. Amobeda, Justice Muhammad Auwal Haruna, and Justice Binta Fatima Murtala Nyako, finding no merit or noting voluntary withdrawal by petitioners.

It also absolved Justice M.A. Ikpambese, Chief Judge of Benue State, of any wrongdoing, while resolving to report the state Attorney-General, Fidelis Bemsen Mnyim, to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for attempting to unduly influence the judiciary.

A serial petitioner, Peter N. Ekemezie, was officially blacklisted from submitting future complaints to the Council.

The NJC accepted the voluntary retirement of Justice Babatunde Ademola Bakre (Ogun High Court) and Justice H.O. Ajayi (Kwara High Court).