The National Judicial Council has recommended Two Heads of Court for compulsory retirement over falsification of age. They are Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice Chukwuemeka Chikeka and the Grand Kadi of Yobe State, Kadi Babagana Mahdi.
The council recommend Justice Chikeka to the Governor of Imo State for compulsory retirement with effect from 27 October 2021, while all salaries and allowance received in excess by him from 27 October 2021 till date be refunded to the Council for age falsification.
Similarly, Kadi Mahdi was also recommended for compulsory retirement and he should refund all salaries and allowances received for the past 12 years.
This was contained in a statement issued by the deputy director Of information of the council, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe after the council’s 107th Meeting held on 13 and 14 November 2024, and presided over by the Chief Justice Of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
According to the statement, Justice G. C. Aguma of High Court of Rivers State was restricted from performing judicial functions for a period of one year without pay and also placed him on “Watch-List” for two years.
The Council’s findings revealed that Justice Aguma, committed acts of misconduct by aiding a litigant who obtained a judgment at the FCT High Court, Abuja, and filed a garnishee against judgement debtors in Bori Division of the High Court, Rivers State.
Justice Aguma was also found guilty of failing to raise any query as to why the garnishee proceedings were brought to his Court in Bori for a money judgment that could effectively be enforced in Abuja.
The Council noted that the speed with which the Justice Aguma took and granted the order absolute against the judgment debtors showed that he had an interest, especially as he failed to take into consideration the stay of execution of the judgment granted in favour of the judgement debtors by the Bwari High Court, which had been brought to his attention.
Justice A. O. Nwabunike of Anambra State High Court was also suspended from performing judicial functions for one year without pay and placed on “Watch-List” for two years thereafter.
Letter of caution was issued to Justice I. A. Jamil of Kogi State to be more circumspect in handling sensitive matters in the future.
Among to the 22 petitions that were dismissed for lacking in merit are Petitions against Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja , the Court of Appeal, Justice Peter Obiora, Justice I. S. Yerima, Chief Judge, Oyo State, Justice Comfort Ani of the Enugu State High Court,High Court of Justice, Kaduna State, Justice Stephen Dalyop Pam of the Federal High Court were all dismissed for being unmeritorious.
The statement also read that, “While the NJC is ready to sanction erring Judicial Officers, it has a duty to protect them against unfounded allegations.”
“The Council resolved that Legal Practitioners who by themselves or in collusion with litigants write frivolous petitions to blackmail the Judicial Officers will be reported to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) or the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) for appropriate action.”
The Council however recommended Thirty-six (36) candidates for judicial appointment to their various State Governors.
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
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