By Faith Adama
The National Judicial Council (NJC), chaired by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has recommended the compulsory retirement of two senior judges for falsifying their ages and suspended two others for professional misconduct.
At its 107th meeting on November 13–14, 2024, the NJC found Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka, and Yobe State’s Grand Kadi, Kadi Babagana Mahdi, guilty of altering their birth records.
The council revealed that Kadi Mahdi listed three different birth dates in official documents—December 10, January 28, and July—all in 1959, while his true year of birth was 1952.
Justice Chikeka, on the other hand, swore an affidavit in 2006 to shift his birth year from 1956 to 1958.
Additionally, the NJC suspended Justice G. C. Aguma of the High Court of Rivers State and Justice A. O. Nwabunike of Anambra State High Court for one year without pay and placed them on a two-year “Watch-List.”
Justice Aguma was accused of improperly assisting a litigant by granting garnishee orders in his court in Bori, Rivers State, despite the original judgment being issued in Abuja.
The NJC highlighted his failure to address a stay of execution order issued by the Bwari High Court, indicating a potential conflict of interest.
Justice Nwabunike faced sanctions for granting ex parte orders without accompanying motions and for inconsistent interpretations of legal terms, which violated the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.
The NJC also announced ongoing investigations into allegations against Osun State Chief Judge, Justice O. A. Ojo, and dismissed 22 petitions against other judges for lack of merit.
This decisive action underscores the NJC’s commitment to upholding judicial integrity and accountability in Nigeria.
