The National Judicial Council (NJC) has ordered the compulsory retirement of 10 judges in Imo State over allegations of falsifying their ages and engaging in other forms of misconduct. The decision followed the council’s 109th meeting chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
In a statement issued Thursday, the NJC disclosed that five High Court judges and four judges from the Customary Court of Appeal were found to have altered their official birth dates to unlawfully extend their service years.
The affected High Court judges include Justices M.E. Nwagboso, B.C. Iheka, K.A. Leaweanya, Chinyere Ngozi Okereke, and Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi. From the Customary Court of Appeal, the judges are Tennyson Nze, Uchenna Ofoha, Everyman Eleanya, and Rosemond Ibe.
Justice T.N. Nzeukwu was also compulsorily retired for inappropriately positioning himself as acting Chief Judge of Imo State despite being fourth in the seniority hierarchy—a move that contravenes constitutional provisions. The Council reiterated its directive to Governor Hope Uzodinma to appoint the most senior judge as acting Chief Judge.
However, Justice V.U. Okorie, President of the Imo Customary Court of Appeal, was exonerated of any wrongdoing in connection with the matter.
The Council also approved the appointment of 21 judges across various states. These include Justice Adekanye Lekan Ogunmoye as Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Kadi Abba Mammadi as Grand Kadi of Yobe State, and Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar, Esq., as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Additional appointments were made to High Courts in Cross River, Ogun, Zamfara, and Katsina, as well as Sharia and Customary Courts of Appeal in Zamfara, Plateau, and Ebonyi States.
As part of its new transparency policy introduced in April 2025, the NJC reviewed 86 public submissions on shortlisted candidates before finalising the appointments.
In a related disciplinary action, Hon. Justice Isaac J. Essien of the National Industrial Court has been barred from elevation for three years due to multiple ethical breaches, including issuing a confiscation order against the Nasarawa State Government while an appeal and a stay of execution were pending.
Other judicial officers were also sanctioned for various infractions, while some petitions were dismissed as unsubstantiated or voluntarily withdrawn. The NJC accepted the voluntary retirement of Justices Babatunde Ademola Bakre (Ogun State High Court) and H.O. Ajayi (Kwara State High Court).
The Council also blacklisted a known serial petitioner, Peter N. Ekemezie, barring him from submitting further complaints.
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