NJC suggests two judges for mandatory retirement, suspends two others

The National Judicial Council (NJC) chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, have nominated two judges for mandatory retirement due to judicial misconduct.

At its 107th meeting, which took place on November 13 and 14, 2024, the council proposed that some judges be mandatorily resigned.

Justice T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka, the Chief Judge of Imo State, and Kadi Babagana Mahdi, the Grand Kadi of Yobe State, were forced to resign due to age fraud.

This was revealed on Friday in Abuja in a statement signed by Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, the council’s deputy director of information.

The statement claims that the council discovered that Kadi was actually born in 1952.

This is against his three different dates of birth (December 10, January 28, and July, all in 1959).

The council’s conclusions also showed that Justice Chikeka has two different dates of birth – October 27, 1956, and October 27, 1958.

“However, 27 October 1956 appeared to be the consistent date of birth, but in 2006, the Chief Judge swore to an affidavit changing the date of birth to 27 October 1958”, the statement read.

NJC suspends two other judges

Additionally, the council put two judicial officers on a two-year “Watch-List” and suspended them from office for a year without pay.

In particular, the council put Justice G. C. Aguma of the High Court of Rivers state on a “Watch-List” for two years after suspending him from serving as a judge for a year without compensation.

Similarly, Anambra State High Court Justice A. O. Nwabunike was put on a two-year “Watch-List” and prohibited from carrying out judicial duties for a year without compensation.

According to the statement, the council reviewed the findings of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee, which examined 30 petitions in all.

Six committees were appointed to conduct additional research, while 22 were rejected for lack of merit and two were sub judice.

The statement read, “The Council also empanelled a committee to investigate all complaints and petitions against Hon. Justice O. A. Ojo, Chief Judge, Osun State.

“The council also empanelled a Committee to investigate all complaints and petitions against Hon. Justice O. A. Ojo, Chief Judge, Osun State.

“The council’s findings revealed that Justice G. C. 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.

“The council finds that Justice Aguma failed 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.

“That the judgment was delivered on 15 July 2020, at the High Court of the FCT, while the certificate of judgment was registered at the Bori division of the High Court of Rivers state on 16 July 2020.

“The council further finds that the speed with which the Hon. 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”, it added.

The council determined that Justice Nwabunike of Anambra state had violated Rule 3.1 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 2016 revised code of conduct for judicial officers.

“He also failed to adhere to the principle of stare decisis from his different interpretation of the word “aspirant” and abused his judicial powers by granting ex parte orders without a ‘Motion on Notice’ filed along with the originating summons”, the statement read.

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