The Imo State Judiciary has experienced a major shakeup as the NJC compulsorily retired ten judges from the stateAccording to the commission, nine of the judges were retired over the allegation of age falsification, while the other one was retired for allowing himself to be sworn in as chief judgeThe NJC investigative report indicated that the state’s acting Chief Judge allowed himself to be sworn in when he was the fourth in the hierarchyThe National Judicial Commission (NJC) has approved ten judges in the Imo State Judiciary for compulsory retirement. This was disclosed in a statement released by the council on Thursday night, June 26.
According to the statement, nine out of ten of the affected judges have falsified their dates of birth with the aim of continuing their stays in office. Also, the commission okayed the retirement of Justice T. N. Nzeukwu.
NJC retires 10 judges from Imo state
Photo Credit: @NGCourtofAppeal
Source: TwitterJudge in fourth position emerges Imo Chief JudgeAccording to Vanguard, Justice Nzeukwu reportedly allowed himself to be sworn in as the acting Chief Judge of the Imo State High Court, when he was the fourth in the hierarchy in the list of judges in the Imo State Judiciary.
The NJC explained that the action of Justice Nzeukwu contravened Section 271 (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. The nine other affected judges included five High Court judges and four Customary Court of Appeal judges.
Below is the list of the affected judges:
S/NNames of JudgesCourt1Justice T. N. NzeukwuActing Chief Judge of the Imo High Court2Justice M. E. NwagbosoHigh Court3Justice B. C. IhekaHigh Court4Justice K. A. Leaweanya High Court5Justice Okereke Chinyere NgoziHigh Court6Justice Innocent Chidi IbeawuchiHigh Court7Justice Tennyson NzeCustomary Court of Appeal8Justice Ofoha UchennaCustomary Court of Appeal9Justice Everyman EleanyaCustomary Court of Appeal10Justice Rosemond IbeCustomary Court of AppealWhy NJC retired 10 Imo judgesThe council then reiterated its call on Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State to immediately swear in the most senior judge in the state as the acting Chief Judge. The NJC’s decision followed the report of its age falsification investigative committee against 18 of the judges and queries issued to two of the judges.
Also, similar allegations against three judges of the Imo State High Court were dismissed by the NJC because the investigation did not find any discrepancy in their date of birth.
The NJC is the body responsible for the recommendation of judges to both the states and the federal government. It regulates the appointment, promotion and salaries of judges across the country.
NJC retires 10 judges in Imo over age falsification
Photo Credit: @NGCourtofAppeal
Source: TwitterNJC asked to intervene in Rivers legal tussleLegit.ng earlier reported that Rivers state has been thrown into another legal tussle as the National Judicial Commission has been asked to step into the latest developments in the state.
This came after the state high court ruled that the 27 members of the state house of assembly who denounced their membership from the PDP are still members of the party.
Reacting, the Coalition for Justice and Accountability called on the CJN to probe the ruling by the Rivers state high court.
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Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
