…names 12 for Court of Appeal appointment
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the suspension of two judges for one year without pay.
The affected judges are Justice Ibrahim D. Shekarau of the High Court of Nasarawa State and Justice Edward A. E. Okpe of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesman, Kemi Babalola, Ogendegbe, the NJC at its 111 meeting, also approved the issuance of 256 letters to judicial officers for various perlormance-related issucs.
“The Council also deliberated on the report of 98 petitions submitted by its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees.
“Out of the petitions considered, 68 were dismissed for lack of merit, four Judges were cautioned, one judge received final warning, while 11 petitions were recommended for further investigation.
“The Council further adopted reports suspending proceedings in some petitions on the grounds that the matters were subjudice.
“Council also resolved to refer one Mbadiwe Ossai to the Inspector General of Police for investigation and prosecution for alleged perjury while Adeboye Williams Adewale, Esq.; Dr. Peter N. Ekemezie, Esq.; Dr. Martin Odika, Esq.; and Muhammad Hamza Ahmad-Gana, Esq.; were referred to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for writing frivolous and unsubstantiated petitions calculated to harass and intimidate Judicial Officers.
“In a related development, one Yusuf Isa, a serial petitioner, was barred from further presenting petitions to the Council.
“On judicial performance evaluation, the NJC commended nine Judges for exemplary performance during the 2024 and 2025 legal years.
“Two Judges are to receive letters of commendation for delivering more than 21 considered judgments within the review period, while seven others will receive appreciation letters for commendable performance.
“The Council also approved the issuance of 256 letters to judicial officers for various performance-related issues,” the statement added.
The NJC also disclosed that the tenure of Justice Ijeoma Agugua as Acting Chief Judge of Imo State was extended.
On appeals filed by eight judges of the Imo State Judiciary who sought reversal of their compulsory retirement over age falsification, the Council rejected the requests.
“On disciplinary matters, the Council rejected appeals filed by eight judges of the Imo State Judiciary seeking a reversal of their compulsory retirement from service over age falsification.
“The Council found that the affected Judges failed to present fresh evidence capable of justifying a reversal of the sanctions imposed on them.”
However, the Council reinstated Justice T. I. Nze of the Customary Court of Appeal after new evidence submitted to the review committee was found to be authentic.
The affected judges were among 10 judicial officers earlier recommended for compulsory retirement at the NJC’s 109th meeting held on June 25, 2025.
“Nine of them were found to have altered their dates of birth in official records to unlawfully extend their years in service, while Justice T. N. 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.”
The Council further considered 13 investigative reports relating to petitions against judicial officers across the country.
“The Council also considered 13 investigation reports on petitions filed against Judicial Officers across the country over the handling of cases before them.
“Following deliberations, the NJC dismissed 8 petitions for lack of merit, want of diligent prosecution or for being time barred, while sanctions including one year suspension without pay were imposed in 2 cases where misconduct was established.”
Similarly, Justice Edward A. E. Okpe of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory was suspended for one year without pay over alleged denial of fair hearing in a matrimonial case.
“Similarly, the Council suspended Hon. Justice Edward A. E. Okpe of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory for one year without pay over allegations of breach of fair hearing in a matrimonial case.
“The decision followed a petition filed by Mr. Sunday Emmanuel Oso, who accused the Judge of bias and denial of fair hearing in Suit No. FCT/HC/PET/529/2024 between Lateefat Adeola Oso and Sunday Emmanuel Oso.
“In the petition, Oso alleged that although he was served hearing notices fixing the matter for September 19, 2024, the court heard and granted an ex parte application on September 17, 2024 without notice to him.”
