The National Judicial Council (NJC) has dismissed 10 judges from the Imo State judiciary for falsifying their ages and engaging in other unethical conduct.
A statement by the NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Ogedengbe, confirmed the decision was reached during the council’s 109th meeting held on June 25, 2025, and chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
According to the statement, “Nine of the affected judges of the Imo State Judiciary were found to have altered their dates of birth in their official records to confer on themselves the undue advantage of staying longer in service.”
Those indicted include five judges of the High Court — Justice M. E. Nwagboso, Justice B. C. Iheka, Justice K. A. Leaweanya, Justice Okereke Chinyere Ngozi, and Justice Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi — and four from the Customary Court of Appeal — Justice Tennyson Nze, Justice Ofoha Uchenna, Justice Everyman Eleanya, and Justice Rosemond Ibe.
The Council also recommended the compulsory retirement of Justice Babatunde Bakre (Ogun State High Court) and Justice H. O. Ajayi (Kwara State High Court). Both were said to have voluntarily accepted the decision.
The NJC further took action against Justice Isaac J. Essien of the National Industrial Court, who was barred from promotion for the next three years due to what the Council described as “grossly inappropriate” conduct. This includes issuing a confiscation order on ₦1 billion belonging to the Nasarawa State Government despite a pending appeal and stay of execution.
The Council added that Justice Essien also used the court’s official letterhead for personal matters and personally visited a court registry to verify the status of an appeal.
Other disciplinary measures were also taken: Justice Rahman A. Oshodi (Lagos) received a caution for mishandling a case (Suit No. ID/232/53C/23), Justice Daniel Okungbowa, Chief Judge of Edo State, was warned over abuse of discretion (Suit No. B1/555/2020), Justice G. B. Okolosi (Delta State) got a final warning for repeated delays in delivering judgments and Justice Sa’adatu I. Mark (Federal High Court) was cautioned for exceeding the 90-day constitutional limit for judgment delivery.
Petitions against four judges — Justice A.M. Liman, Justice S.A. Amobeda, Justice Muhammad Auwal Haruna, and Justice Binta Fatima Murtala Nyako — were dismissed due to lack of merit or withdrawal by petitioners.
Meanwhile, the NJC cleared Justice M.A. Ikpambese, Chief Judge of Benue State, of wrongdoing but resolved to report the State Attorney-General, Fidelis Bemsen Mnyim, to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for attempting to improperly influence the judiciary.
A frequent petitioner, Peter N. Ekemezie, was blacklisted by the Council for submitting frivolous complaints.
