The National Judicial Council (NJC) has ordered the compulsory retirement of 10 judges in Imo State over allegations of age falsification and other forms of misconduct.
This decision was made public after the council’s 109th meeting chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
In a statement on Thursday, the NJC disclosed that five judges from the High Court and four from the Customary Court of Appeal were found to have altered their official dates of birth to unlawfully extend their time in service.
Those affected from the High Court are Justices M.E. Nwagboso, B.C. Iheka, K.A. Leaweanya, Chinyere Ngozi Okereke, and Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi.
From the Customary Court of Appeal, the affected judges are Justices Tennyson Nze, Uchenna Ofoha, Everyman Eleanya, and Rosemond Ibe.
Additionally, Justice T.N. Nzeukwu was compulsorily retired for improperly presenting himself for the position of acting Chief Judge of Imo State despite being fourth in the order of seniority, in violation of constitutional provisions.
The NJC equally directed Governor Hope Uzodinma to swear-in the most senior judge as acting Chief Judge.
Meanwhile, the Council cleared Justice V.U. Okorie, President of the Imo State Customary Court of Appeal, of any wrongdoing in connection to the incident.
The NJC also approved the appointment of 21 judges across several states and courts, including Justice Adekanye Lekan Ogunmoye as the Chief Judge of Ekiti State and Kadi Abba Mammadi as Grand Kadi of Yobe State. Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar, Esq. was recommended as the new Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Further appointments were approved for the High Courts in Cross River, Ogun, Zamfara, Katsina, and for Sharia and Customary Courts of Appeal in Zamfara, Plateau, and Ebonyi States.
The council stated that it received and reviewed 86 public comments on the shortlisted candidates in accordance with its new transparency policy introduced in April 2025.
In related development, Hon. Justice Isaac J. Essien of the National Industrial Court has been barred from elevation for three years over several ethical breaches, including issuing a confiscation order against the Nasarawa State Government while an appeal and stay of execution were pending.
The Council also sanctioned other judges for various infractions, while dismissing petitions against some federal and state judges after finding them baseless or after the petitioners voluntarily withdrew their complaints.
The NJC accepted the voluntary retirement of Justice Babatunde Ademola Bakre from Ogun State High Court and Justice H.O. Ajayi from Kwara State High Court.
In addition, a serial petitioner, Peter N. Ekemezie, was blacklisted from submitting further petitions to the Council.
