•••••••• Recommends Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar, Esq. as CCT Chairman •••••••
The National Judicial Council has consented to the immediate retirement of about 11 judges and sanctioned few others in Imo state.
In a bid to ensure equitable administration of justice in the nation’s judiciary, the body arrived at the resolution during its 109th meeting held on June 25, 2025 presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere Ekun.
A Press release made available by NJC Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Ogedengbe, stated that among the eleven, about nine were guilty of age falsification in order to stay longer in service.
The affected were five High Court Judges and four Judges from the Customary Court of Appeal;
1. M. E. Nwagboso (High Court)
2. B. C. Iheka (High Court)
3. K. A. Leaweanya (High Court)
4. Okereke Chinyere Ngozi (High Court)
5. Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi (High Court)
6. Tennyson Nze (Customary Court of Appeal)
7. Ofoha Uchenna (Customary Court of Appeal)
8. Everyman Eleanya (Customary Court of Appeal)
9. Rosemond Ibe (Customary Court of Appeal)
The decision was reached after a thorough findings against eighteen (18) judges of the Imo State judiciary including a set of nine judges who were cleared of similar allegations.
The exonerated judicial officers, were three judges of the State High Court whose dates of birth had no discrepancy while six who were suspects, were cleared with genuine facts and evidences.
Justice T. N. Nzeukwu has been penned for immediate retirement following his decision to made himself available to be sworn in as acting Chief Judge of Imo State High Court despite the fact he wasn’t the next in ranking.
In strong words, the council accused Mr Nzeukwu of violating code of conduct contrary to Section 271 (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, reiterating its earlier directives to the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma to swear in the most Senior Judge of the State as the acting Chief Judge.
Elsewhere in the country, the council approved the voluntary retirement of the following Judicial Officers:
i) Hon. Justice Babatunde Ademola Bakre of the Ogun State High Court.
ii) Hon. Justice H. O. Ajayi of the Kwara State High Court.
About twenty-one candidates have been earmarked for judicial appointments across various states in Nigeria.
Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar, Esq. portfolio has been submitted to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for appointment as Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal, to replace Umar Danladi who has been removed over allegedly gross misconduct.
Hon. Justice Adekanye Lekan Ogunmoye, will now serve as Chief Judge of Ekiti State and Hon. Kadi Abba Mammadi as Grand Kadi, Yobe State.
All recommendations followed series of process after petitions were made against some of the shortlisted candidates for various positions by an eight member committee who put them through a closely monitored Interview in line with the 2023 Revised NJC Guidelines and Procedural Rules Appointment of Judicial Officers.
Others for appointments are;
TWO HIGH COURT JUDGES FOR CROSS RIVER STATE
i) Edu, Glory Bassey
ii) Irem, Melody Bassey
THREE HIGH COURT JUDGES FOR OGUN STATE
i) Ojikutu, Adebayo Julius
ii) Adewole, Adejumoke Oluwatoyin
iii) Adebo, Oluyemisi Olukemi
THREE HIGH COURT JUDGES FOR ZAMFARA STATE
i) Garba, Sirajo Aliyu
ii) Bashir, Rabi
iii) Abdullahi, Nasiru
THREE KADIS FOR SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, ZAMFARA STATE
i) Ibrahim, Jibril
ii) Muhammed, Sanusi Magami
iii) Shaa’ban Mansur
ONE KADI FOR SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, PLATEAU STATE
i) Badamasi, Kabir Adam
ONE JUDGE FOR CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, EBONYI STATE
i) Ogodo, Lynda Nneka
FOUR HIGH COURT JUDGES FOR KATSINA STATE
i) Dikko, Fadila Muhammad
ii) Abdulrahman, Shamsudden Yammama
iii) Abdullahi, Maryham Umaru
iv) Mohammed, Abubakar Dikko.
The Council hammer, further falls on a National Industrial Court Judge, Hon. Justice Isaac J. Essien, who has been banned from promotion to a Higher Court for three years due to misconduct.
