The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the compulsory retirement of two judicial officers and sanctioned two others for misconduct. The decisions, reached during the NJC’s 107th meeting held in Abuja, aim to maintain ethical standards within the judiciary.
The Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice T.E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka, and the Grand Kadi of Yobe State, Kadi Babagana Mahdi, were found guilty of age falsification and ordered to retire. Meanwhile, Justice G.C. Aguma of the Rivers State High Court and Justice A.O. Nwabunike of the Anambra State High Court were suspended for one year without pay for judicial misconduct.
In a statement by NJC spokesperson Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, Justice Aguma was found guilty of aiding a litigant who sought enforcement of a judgment delivered in Abuja at the Rivers State High Court, Bori Division.
“The council finds that Justice Aguma failed to query why garnishee proceedings were filed in his court for a judgment that could effectively be enforced in Abuja,” Babalola-Ogedengbe explained. “The speed with which the order absolute was granted raises concerns of bias, especially as a stay of execution had been granted in favor of the judgment debtors.”
Justice Nwabunike was also indicted for judicial overreach. “He breached Rule 3.1 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers by issuing ex parte orders without a motion on notice accompanying the originating summons,” she added.
Justice Chikeka was recommended for retirement after discrepancies were found in his declared birth dates—October 27, 1956, and October 27, 1958. “In 2006, His Lordship swore to an affidavit changing his birth year to 1958, contradicting previous records,” the NJC revealed.
Similarly, Kadi Mahdi was found to have falsified his birth year multiple times. “The council discovered three different dates of birth for Kadi Mahdi—December 10, January 28, and July—all in 1959—while his actual date of birth was 1952. He ought to have retired 12 years ago,” Babalola-Ogedengbe stated.
Both officials were instructed to refund all salaries and allowances received during their extended tenure.
The NJC also issued cautionary letters to Justices I.A. Jamil and J.J. Majebi of Kogi State for mishandling sensitive cases. Additionally, petitions against Justice Peter O. Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, were dismissed due to lack of evidence and the failure of the petitioners to substantiate their claims.
The council has empanelled six committees to investigate further petitions and placed the suspended judges on a two-year watchlist following their sanctions.
“The NJC remains committed to ensuring discipline and ethical conduct within the judiciary to maintain public trust in the legal system,” Babalola-Ogedengbe emphasized.
