- The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended compulsory retirement for two judges found guilty of falsifying birthdates
- NJC also suspended two judges for misconduct, including aiding in improper legal proceedings and issuing ex parte orders
- The NJC continued its efforts to uphold integrity in Nigeria’s judiciary, reviewing 30 petitions and taking strong actions against judicial misconduct
The National Judicial Council (NJC), under the leadership of Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has made significant decisions following its 107th meeting held on November 13 and 14, 2024.
In a statement released on Friday, November 15, the council announced the compulsory retirement of two senior judicial officers and the suspension of two others for judicial misconduct.
The NJC recommended the compulsory retirement of two prominent judges: Justice T.E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka, the Chief Judge of Imo State, and Kadi Babagana Mahdi, the Grand Kadi of Yobe State.
Both were found guilty of falsifying their dates of birth, a serious breach of ethical and professional standards.
Justice Chikeka was found to have two different birthdates on record: October 27, 1956, and October 27, 1958.
While the date of October 27, 1956, appeared to be the original and consistent record, in 2006, the Chief Judge swore an affidavit changing his birthdate to October 27, 1958.
Similarly, Kadi Mahdi of Yobe State had three conflicting birthdates recorded December 10, January 28, and July 1959 while his actual date of birth was determined to be 1952.
The NJC's statement emphasised the importance of maintaining integrity within the judiciary, and these actions reflect the council's commitment to upholding accountability among judicial officers.
In addition to the retirement recommendations, the NJC also suspended two judges from performing judicial functions for one year without pay due to misconduct.
Justice G.C. Aguma, a judge at the High Court of Rivers State, was found to have aided a litigant in a garnishee proceeding by approving a judgment from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, that should have been enforced in the FCT.
The NJC's investigation revealed that Justice Aguma failed to question why the garnishee proceedings were brought before his court in Bori, Rivers State, despite the judgment being registered in Abuja.
Additionally, the speed with which Justice Aguma granted the garnishee order raised concerns about his potential bias.
Similarly, Justice A.O. Nwabunike of the Anambra State High Court was found to have breached the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, particularly Rule 3.1, which mandates judicial officers to maintain impartiality and fairness.
The NJC also noted that Justice Nwabunike misinterpreted the term "aspirant" and issued ex parte orders without the proper motion on notice, violating judicial procedure.
Both judges will remain on the NJC's "Watch-List" for the next two years, monitoring their conduct and actions during the suspension period.
The NJC also disclosed that it had reviewed 30 petitions through its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee. While 22 of the petitions were dismissed for lack of merit, two were still under judicial review.
The council emphasised that further investigations are ongoing into allegations against Hon. Justice O.A. Ojo, Chief Judge of Osun State, with a dedicated committee set up to address these complaints.
The council's recent actions are part of its broader efforts to ensure accountability and transparency within Nigeria's judiciary. With the integrity of the judicial system under intense scrutiny, the NJC's decisions aim to send a strong message that judicial misconduct will not be tolerated at any level.
The NJC has pledged to continue its efforts to uphold the highest standards of judicial conduct and integrity.
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Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun emerged as the second female Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) after she was sworn in on Friday, August 23.
TheRadar compiled 12 facts you should know about the CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
