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NJC Rejects Appeals Of Eight Imo Judges Over Age Falsification, Suspends Two Judges For One Year Without Pay For Misconduct, Bars Serial Petitioner
The decisions were reached during the Council’s 111th meeting held on May 13, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
Abuja, Nigeria– The National Judicial Council (NJC) has rejected appeals filed by eight judges of the Imo State Judiciary seeking to overturn their compulsory retirement over allegations of age falsification, while also suspending two serving judges for one year without pay over separate acts of judicial misconduct.
The decisions were reached during the Council’s 111th meeting held on May 13, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
According to the Council, the affected Imo judges failed to provide fresh evidence capable of warranting a reversal of the sanctions earlier imposed on them.
The judges whose appeals were dismissed are Hon. Justice B.C. Iheka, Hon. Justice K. A. Leaweanya, Hon. Justice Okereke Chinyere Ngozi, Hon. Justice Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi, Hon. Justice Ofoha Uchenna, Hon. Justice Everyman Eleanya, Hon. Justice Rosemond Ibe and Hon. Justice T. N. Nzeukwu.
However, the NJC reinstated Hon. Justice T. I. Nze of the Customary Court of Appeal after he presented what the Council described as authentic new evidence before its review committee.
The affected judges were among 10 judicial officers earlier recommended for compulsory retirement during the Council’s 109th meeting held on June 25, 2025.
According to the NJC, nine of the judicial officers were found to have altered their dates of birth in official records in a bid to unlawfully extend their years in service.
Justice T. N. Nzeukwu, on the other hand, was sanctioned for allegedly making 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 Nigerian Constitution.
The Council also reviewed 13 investigation reports arising from petitions filed against judicial officers across the country concerning the handling of cases before them.
Following deliberations, the NJC dismissed eight petitions on grounds including lack of merit, want of diligent prosecution and statutory limitation.
However, disciplinary sanctions were imposed in two cases where misconduct was established.
One of the affected judges, Hon. Justice Ibrahim D. Shekarau of the High Court of Nasarawa State, was suspended for one year without pay over what the Council described as judicial misconduct involving the grant of an ex parte order in breach of Rules 3.1, 3.3 and 3.5 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2016.
The suspension followed a petition filed by Oluwafunke Obale Ozozoma in relation to proceedings in Suit No. NSD/MG56M/2025.
According to the petitioner, Justice Shekarau granted an ex parte order directing the transfer of N7 million from her bank account to a third party as a purported reversal of funds.
She alleged that the ex parte application was filed, heard and granted on the same day despite the absence of any substantive suit before the court.
The petitioner further contended that the order wrongly portrayed her as being involved in fraud even though she had neither been charged with any offence nor joined as a party in the proceedings.
She also accused the judge of failing to verify claims relating to the alleged erroneous transfer before issuing the order.
After reviewing the matter, the NJC committee reportedly found that Justice Shekarau acted in bad faith, failed to observe due process and demonstrated lack of professional competence.
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 bordering on denial of fair hearing in a matrimonial dispute.
The disciplinary action followed a petition filed by Mr. Sunday Emmanuel Oso in Suit No. FCT/HC/PET/529/2024 between Lateefat Adeola Oso and Sunday Emmanuel Oso.
In the petition, Oso accused Justice Okpe of bias and violation of his right to fair hearing.
He alleged that although hearing notices had fixed the matter for September 19, 2024, the court proceeded to hear and grant an ex parte application on September 17, 2024 without notifying him.
Oso further alleged that when the matter later came up, the judge declined to entertain the Motion on Notice and instead proceeded with committal proceedings against him over alleged disobedience to the earlier ex parte order.
The NJC committee subsequently found that Justice Okpe granted an ex parte application that led to committal proceedings against the petitioner without affording him an opportunity to be heard, contrary to Rule 3.3 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.
In another matter, the Council dismissed a petition filed against Hon. Justice Charles N. Wali of the Rivers State High Court over allegations connected to the Rivers State House of Assembly crisis.
The NJC held that the allegations against the judge were unsubstantiated and recommended that the petitioner, Daniel Chibuzor Amadi Esq., be referred to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for what it described as reckless allegations unsupported by evidence.
The Council also deliberated on reports involving 98 petitions submitted by its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees.
Out of the petitions reviewed, 68 were dismissed for lack of merit, four judges were cautioned, one judge received a final warning, while 11 petitions were recommended for further investigation.
The NJC further adopted reports suspending proceedings in some petitions on the basis that the matters were already sub judice.
In another development, the Council resolved to refer one Mbadiwe Ossai to the Inspector-General of Police for investigation and possible prosecution over alleged perjury.
It also referred Adeboye Williams Adewale Esq., Dr. Peter N. Ekemezie Esq., Dr. Martin Odika Esq. and Muhammad Hamza Ahmad-Gana Esq. to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for allegedly filing frivolous and unsubstantiated petitions aimed at harassing and intimidating judicial officers.
The Council also barred one Yusuf Isa, described as a serial petitioner, from filing further petitions before the NJC.
On judicial performance evaluation, the Council commended nine judges for what it described as exemplary performance during the 2024 and 2025 legal years.
According to the NJC, two judges would receive letters of commendation for delivering more than 21 considered judgments within the review period, while seven others would receive appreciation letters for commendable performance.
The Council also approved the issuance of 256 letters to judicial officers over various performance-related matters.
The NJC further approved the retirement of three judicial officers.
They include Hon. Justice Hamma Akawu Barka of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, who retired on April 17, 2026; Hon. Justice Amina Audi Wambai of the Court of Appeal, Makurdi Division, who is scheduled to retire on July 6, 2026; and Hon. Justice Bello Mohammed Shinkafi of the High Court of Zamfara State, who will voluntarily retire on July 31, 2026.
The Council expressed appreciation for what it described as their dedicated and meritorious service to the judiciary and the country.
The NJC also mourned the deaths of three judicial officers recorded between December 12, 2025 and April 1, 2026.
The deceased judicial officers are Hon. Justice Godswill Vidal Obomanu of the Rivers State High Court, Hon. Justice Bamidele Folarinle Adeyeye of the Ondo State High Court and Hon. Justice Yahaya Adamu of the Kogi State High Court.
“The National Judicial Council extends its heartfelt condolences to their families, the Judiciary, and the entire Nigerian legal community, and prays for the peaceful repose of their souls,” the Council said in a statement signed by Kemi Babalola-Oledengbe Esq., Deputy Director of Information.
