National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended two judges for one year without pay and rejected appeals filed by eight judges of the Imo State judiciary compulsorily retired over age falsification.
The council, however, reinstated a judge of the Imo State Customary Court of Appeal after reviewing fresh evidence presented by him.
The decisions were taken at the council’s 111th meeting held on 13 May and chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
According to a statement issued by the NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, on Thursday, the council also recommended the appointment of 12 new Justices of the Court of Appeal.
On the appeal filled by the eight judges, initially suspended, the council said the affected judges “failed to present fresh evidence capable of justifying a reversal of the sanctions imposed on them.”
The judges are B.C. Iheka, K.A. Leaweanya, Okereke Chinyere Ngozi, Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi, Ofoha Uchenna, Everyman Eleanya, Rosemond Ibe and T.N. Nzeukwu.
NJC had, at its 109th meeting held in June 2025, recommended the compulsory retirement of 29 judicial officers from the Imo State judiciary.
Nine of them were found to have altered their dates of birth in official records to extend their years in service unlawfully.
Mr Nzeukwu was found to have made himself available to be sworn in as acting Chief Judge despite being fourth in the hierarchy of judges, contrary to Section 271(4) of the Constitution.
However, according to the statement, the council reinstated T.I. Nze of the Imo State Customary Court of Appeal after he presented fresh evidence to the review committee. The committee found the evidence authentic.
Two Suspended
The NJC suspended Ibrahim D. Shekarau of the High Court of Nasarawa State for one year without pay over judicial misconduct.
The suspension followed a petition filed by Oluwafunke Obale Ozozoma concerning proceedings in suit number NSD/MG56M/2025.
The petitioner alleged that Mr Shekarau granted an ex parte order directing the transfer of N7 million from her bank account to a third party.
She also alleged that the application was filed, heard and granted on the same day without any substantive suit before the court.
According to the statement, the petitioner argued that the order “wrongly implied her involvement in fraud” despite not being charged or joined in the case.
The NJC said its committee found that the judge “acted in bad faith”, failed to observe due process and showed lack of professional competence.
The council also suspended Edward A.E. Okpe of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory for one year without pay over alleged breach of fair hearing in a matrimonial case.
The decision followed a petition filed by Sunday Emmanuel Oso in suit number FCT/HC/PET/529/2024, between Lateefat Adeola Oso and Sunday Emmanuel Oso.
Mr Oso alleged that although he received hearing notices fixing the matter for 19 September 2024, the court heard and granted an ex parte application on 17 September 2024 without notifying him.
He also alleged that when the matter later came up, the judge declined to hear his motion on notice and instead entertained committal proceedings against him.
