The National Judicial Council (NJC) has ordered the compulsory retirement of 10 judges from the Imo State Judiciary for age falsification and other unethical practices. This decision was reached at the NJC’s 109th meeting, chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, as part of its ongoing efforts to uphold integrity in the Nigerian judiciary.
According to the NJC, nine of the affected judges—five from the High Court and four from the Customary Court of Appeal—were found to have altered their dates of birth in official records to illegally extend their time in office. The tenth, Justice T.N. Nzeukwu, was compulsorily retired for submitting himself for appointment as acting Chief Judge of Imo State, despite being fourth in seniority, in violation of the Nigerian Constitution.
Full List of Judges Retired for Age Falsification
High Court Judges:
- Justice M.E. Nwagboso
- Justice B.C. Iheka
- Justice K.A. Leaweanya
- Justice Chinyere Ngozi Okereke
- Justice Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi
Customary Court of Appeal Judges:
- Justice Tennyson Nze
- Justice Uchenna Ofoha
- Justice Everyman Eleanya
- Justice Rosemond Ibe
High Court Judge (for breach of judicial hierarchy):
- Justice T.N. Nzeukwu
The Council’s investigation reviewed allegations against 18 Imo judges. Nine were found guilty of falsifying their records, while Justice Nzeukwu was sanctioned for breaching judicial order. The NJC also cleared nine other Imo judges of similar allegations, finding no discrepancies or accepting their explanations.
“Nine of the affected judges of the Imo State Judiciary were found to have altered their dates of birth in their official records in order to confer on themselves the undue advantage of staying longer in service,” the NJC stated.
Further Actions and New Appointments
The NJC also:
- Reiterated its directive to Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma to swear in the most senior judge as acting Chief Judge, in line with constitutional requirements.
- Exonerated Justice V.U. Okorie, President of the Imo Customary Court of Appeal, who dissented from the nomination of Justice Nzeukwu as acting Chief Judge.
- Barred Justice Isaac J. Essien of the National Industrial Court from promotion for three years for misconduct, including issuing a confiscation order on N1 billion belonging to Nasarawa State while a related appeal was pending.
- Issued warnings to several other judges for various breaches, including late delivery of judgments and misuse of judicial discretion.
Additionally, the NJC recommended 21 candidates for judicial appointments across Nigeria, including new heads of court for Ekiti and Yobe states, and Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Transparency and Public Input
The NJC’s recent transparency policy, introduced in April 2025, allowed for public comments on shortlisted candidates for judicial appointments. Of 86 responses received, 73 were favourable, while five of the 13 negative submissions were dismissed for procedural reasons.
Conclusion
The NJC’s decision to retire 10 judges in Imo State for age falsification is a major step toward restoring trust and integrity in Nigeria’s judiciary. By taking firm action against unethical conduct and promoting transparency in judicial appointments, the Council aims to ensure that only judges of the highest integrity serve the nation. The NJC’s ongoing reforms send a strong message that the rule of law and public confidence in the courts remain paramount.
