The National Judicial Council (NJC) has ordered the compulsory retirement of 10 judges from Imo State for altering their official dates of birth.
The judges were sanctioned after it was confirmed that they manipulated records to illegally extend their tenures in office.
The affected judges include five from the High Court and four from the Customary Court of Appeal. One other was disciplined for violating constitutional seniority rules.
This decision was reached at the NJC’s 109th meeting held in Abuja and chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
According to the Council, “The judges were found to have engaged in unethical practices by falsifying their ages to remain in office beyond the lawful limit.”
Those removed from the High Court are Justices M.E. Nwagboso, B.C. Iheka, K.A. Leaweanya, Chinyere Ngozi Okereke, and Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi.
The Customary Court of Appeal judges include Justices Tennyson Nze, Uchenna Ofoha, Everyman Eleanya, and Rosemond Ibe.
Justice T.N. Nzeukwu was retired for making himself available for appointment as acting Chief Judge of Imo State, despite being fourth in seniority.
More Judges Sanctioned as NJC Insists on Discipline
The NJC directed Governor Hope Uzodimma to swear in the most senior judge as acting Chief Judge of Imo State, in line with the Constitution.
Justice V.U. Okorie, who chaired the commission that nominated Nzeukwu, was cleared of wrongdoing after officially dissenting from the decision.
In addition to disciplinary actions, the NJC also recommended 21 candidates for various judicial appointments across the country.
These include 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 recommended as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Other nominees include judges for the High Courts in Cross River, Ogun, Katsina, and Zamfara states, as well as members of the Sharia and Customary Courts of Appeal.
The NJC stated that its decision followed public feedback on the shortlisted candidates, received in line with its transparency policy.
Out of 86 public responses, 73 were positive. Thirteen were adverse, but five were dismissed for not following procedure.
Judges Barred, Warned and Cleared Over Conduct
Justice Isaac J. Essien of the National Industrial Court was barred from promotion for three years over multiple breaches of judicial ethics.
The NJC said Essien issued a confiscation order on ₦1 billion belonging to Nasarawa State while a related appeal and stay of execution were pending.
He was also found to have used official court letterhead to pursue personal entitlements and visited a court registry to check an appeal.
The NJC described his behaviour as “grossly inappropriate.”
Five other judges received various sanctions. Justice Rahman A. Oshodi in Lagos and Justice Daniel Okungbowa of Edo were warned for misuse of discretion.
Justice G.B. Okolosi in Delta received a final warning for repeatedly breaching the 90-day constitutional judgment window.
Justice Sa’adatu I. Mark of the Federal High Court was cautioned for late delivery of judgment.
Petitions against Justices A.M. Liman, S.A. Amobeda, Muhammad Auwal Haruna, and Binta Fatima Murtala Nyako were dismissed.
Justice M.A. Ikpambese of Benue State was cleared, but the NJC will report Attorney-General Fidelis Bemsen Mnyim to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.
The Council said Mnyim tried to influence the judiciary improperly.
A man identified as Peter N. Ekemezie was also blacklisted by the NJC for repeatedly filing unsubstantiated petitions.
Meanwhile, Justices Babatunde Ademola Bakre of the Ogun High Court and H.O. Ajayi of the Kwara High Court voluntarily retired. The Council accepted their decisions.
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