In a sweeping disciplinary action, the National Judicial Council (NJC) has approved the compulsory retirement of ten judges from the Imo State Judiciary over various acts of misconduct, with age falsification topping the list of infractions.
In a statement issued late Thursday, the NJC disclosed that nine of the judges were found guilty of altering their dates of birth in official records in a bid to unlawfully extend their stay in office.
The affected judges include five from the High Court and four from the Customary Court of Appeal: Justices M. E. Nwagboso, B. C. Iheka, K. A. Leaweanya, Okereke Chinyere Ngozi, and Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi from the High Court, as well as Justices Tennyson Nze, Ofoha Uchenna, Everyman Eleanya, and Rosemond Ibe from the Customary Court of Appeal.
The tenth judge, Justice T. N. Nzeukwu, was sanctioned for allowing himself to be sworn in as Acting Chief Judge of Imo State despite being fourth in seniority—a move the NJC said violates Section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
While the NJC cleared the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice V. U. Okorie, who chaired the nomination panel that recommended Nzeukwu, it reaffirmed its earlier directive to Governor Hope Uzodimma to appoint the most senior judge as the state’s Acting Chief Judge.
The NJC took the decision at its 109th meeting held on June 25 after considering the findings of an investigation into age discrepancies involving 18 judges in Imo State.
In contrast, six judges were cleared of wrongdoing. Three—Justices I. O. Agugua, C. A. Ononeze-Madu, and L. C. Azuama—were found to have no discrepancies in their birth records, while three others—Justices Vincent I. Onyeka, Vivian O. B. Ekezie, and four others—were exonerated for providing credible explanations for previous errors or corrections made to their disadvantage.
Meanwhile, the NJC, under the leadership of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, also made key recommendations for judicial appointments.
Mr. Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar has been nominated as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, subject to confirmation by President Bola Tinubu.
Other appointments include new heads of courts: Justice Adekanye Lekan Ogunmoye as Chief Judge of Ekiti State and Kadi Abba Mammadi as Grand Kadi of Yobe State.
Alos,18 new judges were recommended across various states and jurisdictions, including Ogun, Zamfara, Cross River, Katsina, Ebonyi, and Plateau.
The Council said the recommendations were based on public feedback received after its April 2025 decision to publish shortlisted candidates for public scrutiny. Of the 86 responses received, 73 were favorable, while 13 contained adverse reports—only one of which was found to have merit.
Also, the NJC confirmed 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.
This latest action by the NJC is seen as part of its intensified efforts to clean up the judiciary and restore public trust in the bench.
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