NJC compulsorily retires 10 Judges, bars another over misconduct

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has ordered the compulsory retirement of ten judges and barred a judge of the National Industrial Court from promotion for three years over misconduct.

This decision was part of the resolutions reached at the NJC’s 109th meeting, presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

In a statement signed by the Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Ogedengbe, the Council disclosed that nine of the affected judges from the Imo State Judiciary were caught altering their official dates of birth to illegally extend their time in service.

Another judge, Justice Theophilus Nzeukwu, was found guilty of accepting an appointment as acting Chief Judge of Imo State High Court, despite knowing he was only fourth in line, which contravened the constitutional order of succession. However, Justice V. Okorie, President of the Customary Court of Appeal in Imo State, who chaired the nomination commission, was cleared for officially dissenting against the move.

The NJC reiterated its earlier instruction to Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, to swear in the most senior judge in the state as acting Chief Judge, in line with legal procedures.

Meanwhile, Justice Isaac Essien of the National Industrial Court has been barred from promotion for three years. He was indicted for unlawfully ordering the confiscation of over N1 billion belonging to the Nasarawa State Government and its local councils, despite pending appeals and applications for stay of execution. He was also faulted for refusing to step aside from the case after bias concerns were raised.

The NJC exonerated three Imo State High Court judges whose birth records had no discrepancies and six others whose date-of-birth issues had genuine explanations or corrections that did not favour them.

Additionally, the Council recommended 21 candidates for judicial appointments and approved the appointment of Mainasara Ibrahim as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, forwarding his name to President Bola Tinubu for confirmation. These recommendations followed a strict screening and interview process, guided by public complaints and the 2023 Revised NJC Guidelines for appointing judicial officers.

In a separate case, the Council also dismissed petitions filed by Benue State’s Attorney-General, Fidelis Mnyim, and two others against the Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, describing the allegations as lacking merit.