NJC Orders Compulsory Retirement of 11 Judges, Approves Wide-Ranging Judicial Appointments and Sanctions

 

In an unprecedented disciplinary sweep, the National Judicial Council (NJC) has approved the compulsory retirement of 11 judges across Nigeria, with 10 of them serving in the Imo State Judiciary. 

This move, seen as part of broader efforts to strengthen integrity and accountability in the judiciary, was taken at the NJC’s 109th meeting held on June 25, 2025, under the chairpersonship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

A statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by NJC Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Ogedengbe, confirmed the decisions, which followed extensive deliberations on various allegations against the affected judges and candidates for new judicial positions.

Details of Disciplinary Action in Imo State Judiciary

The NJC found nine judges in Imo State guilty of falsifying their dates of birth in official records to illegally extend their tenure. These judges, comprising five High Court Judges and four from the Customary Court of Appeal, were ordered into compulsory retirement:

• Hon. Justice M. E. Nwagboso (High Court)

• Hon. Justice B. C. Theka (High Court)

• Hon. Justice K. A. Leaweanya (High Court)

• Hon. Justice Okereke Chinyere Ngozi (High Court)

• Hon. Justice Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi (High Court)

• Hon. Justice Tennyson Nze (Customary Court of Appeal)

• Hon. Justice Ofoha Uchenna (Customary Court of Appeal)

• Hon. Justice Everyman Eleanya (Customary Court of Appeal)

• Hon. Justice Rosemond Ibe (Customary Court of Appeal)

Additionally, Hon. Justice T. N. Nzeukwu of Imo State was compulsorily retired for knowingly accepting to be sworn in as Acting Chief Judge despite being fourth in seniority, in breach of Section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

While the President of the Customary Court of Appeal in Imo State, Hon. Justice V. U. Okorie, chaired the commission that recommended Nzeukwu for the acting position, the NJC absolved him of wrongdoing, noting he had formally dissented on record.

Investigation Process and Exonerations

The Council considered the findings of its Investigation Committee on 18 Imo State judges facing age-falsification allegations. After thorough review:

• Three judges were cleared entirely, with no discrepancies found in their records:

  • Hon. Justice I. O. Agugua (High Court)

  • Hon. Justice C. A. Ononeze-Madu (High Court)

  • Hon. Justice L. C. Azuama (High Court)

• Two judges provided acceptable explanations for discrepancies and were directed to maintain the dates recorded with the Council of Legal Education:

  • Hon. Justice Vincent I. Onyeka (High Court)

  • Hon. Justice Vivian O. B. Ekezie (High Court)

• Four judges were found to have corrected their dates of birth in ways that disadvantaged them, and were thus cleared:

  • Hon. Justice P. U. Nodum (High Court)

  • Hon. Justice Alma Ngozi Eluwa (High Court)

  • Hon. Justice Matthew Chinedu Ijezie (High Court)

  • Hon. Justice Ononogbo Chidi Linus (High Court)

The NJC also reiterated its directive to Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State to appoint the most senior judicial officer as Acting Chief Judge.

Broader Judicial Appointments

Apart from the disciplinary actions, the NJC meeting also produced sweeping recommendations for new appointments across Nigeria’s courts. Highlights include:

• Heads of Court appointments:

  • Hon. Justice Adekanye Lekan Ogunmoye as Chief Judge, Ekiti State

  • Hon. Kadi Abba Mammadi as Grand Kadi, Yobe State

• Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal:

  • Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar, Esq.

• High Court Judges for various states:

  • Cross River: Edu, Glory Bassey; Irem, Melody Bassey

  • Ogun: Adebayo Julius Adewole, Adejumoke Oluwatoyin Adebo, Oluyemisi Olukemi

  • Zamfara: Garba Sirajo Aliyu, Bashir Rabi, Abdullahi Nasiru

  • Katsina: Dikko Fadila Muhammad, Abdulrahman Shamsudden Yammama, Abdullahi Maryham Umaru, Mohammed Abubakar Dikko

• Kadis for Sharia Courts of Appeal:

  • Zamfara: Ibrahim Jibril, Muhammed Sanusi Magami, Shaa’ban Mansur

  • Plateau: Badamasi Kabir Adam

• Customary Court of Appeal, Ebonyi State:

  • Ogodo Lynda Nneka

The Council stressed that these recommendations followed rigorous screening and consideration of 86 public comments received under its new policy of publishing candidate names in advance.

Other Disciplinary Measures and Cautions
The Council also addressed misconduct in other jurisdictions:

• Voluntary retirement was approved for:

  • Hon. Justice Babatunde Ademola Bakre (Ogun State High Court)

  • Hon. Justice H. O. Ajayi (Kwara State High Court)

• Hon. Justice Isaac J. Essien (National Industrial Court) was barred from elevation for three years for misconduct including ordering seizure of over ₦1 billion belonging to Nasarawa State despite a pending appeal and showing potential bias due to personal interests.

Additional cautions were issued to:

• Hon. Justice Rahman A. Oshodi (Lagos State) for misuse of discretion in Suit No. ID/232/53C/23

• Hon. Justice Daniel Okungbowa, Chief Judge of Edo State, for abuse of discretion in Suit No. B1/555/2020

• Hon. Justice G. B. Okolosi (Delta State) received a final warning for failing to deliver judgments within the constitutional 90-day limit

• Hon. Justice Sa’adatu I. Mark (Federal High Court) was cautioned for delivering judgment after the constitutional deadline

Cleared Judges and Blacklisted Petitioners

• Hon. Justice M. A. Ikpambese, Chief Judge of Benue State, was cleared of wrongdoing after the Council found petitions against him to be politically motivated. The NJC also expressed concern about the role of Benue’s Attorney-General in orchestrating those complaints and referred him to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee.

• Several other judges had petitions against them dismissed for lacking merit.

• The Council blacklisted one serial petitioner, Peter N. Ekemezie, barring him from lodging further complaints before the NJC.

The NJC’s actions underscore its commitment to enforcing discipline, integrity, and transparency in Nigeria’s judiciary. By approving the retirement of erring judges while endorsing new appointments through a more open and consultative process, the Council signaled its determination to restore public confidence in the justice system.