The National Judicial Council (NJC), chaired by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has sanctioned the compulsory retirement of 11 judges, with 9 of them from the Imo State Judiciary.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, Kemi Ogedengbe, the NJC Deputy Director of Information, revealed that the decision was reached during the council’s 109th meeting on June 25, 2025.
“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,” the statement read.
The nine judges, comprising five High Court judges and four judges of the Customary Court of Appeal, include Justice M. E. Nwagboso, Justice B. C. Iheka, Justice K. A. Leaweanya, Justice Okereke Chinyere Ngozi, Justice Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi, Justice Tennyson Nze, Justice Ofoha Uchenna, Justice Everyman Eleanya, and Justice Rosemond Ibe.
Also the NJC sanctioned Justice T. N. Nzeukwu for presenting himself to be sworn in as acting Chief Judge of the Imo State High Court, despite being fourth in the judicial hierarchy. This act was deemed contrary to Section 271 (4) of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, Justice V. U. Okorie, President of the Customary Court of Appeal in Imo State, who chaired the commission that nominated Justice Nzeukwu, was exonerated as he had dissented on record against the recommendation.
The NJC further urged Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, to comply with its earlier directive to swear in the most senior judge of the state as the acting Chief Judge.
It said that three judges of the State High Court, namely Justice I. O. Agugua, Justice C. A. Ononeze-Madu, and Justice L. C. Azuama, were cleared of age falsification allegations after their records showed no discrepancies.
Justice Vincent I. Onyeka and Justice Vivian O. B. Ekezie were also absolved after providing acceptable explanations for discrepancies in their records, though the NJC directed them to adhere to the dates of birth supplied by the Council of Legal Education.
Four additional judges, including Justice P. U. Nnodum, Justice Alma Ngozi Eluwa, Justice Matthew Chinedu Ijezie, and Justice Ononogbo Linus, were cleared by the NJC after it was established that their corrected dates of birth placed them at a disadvantage.
