In one of the most sweeping decisions in recent judicial history, the National Judicial Council (NJC) has appointed Justice Adekanye Lekan Ogunmoye as the new Chief Judge of Ekiti State, while ordering the compulsory retirement of ten judges from the Imo State judiciary, nine for falsifying their age and one for illegally assuming the role of Acting Chief Judge.
The momentous rulings came during the NJC’s 109th meeting, held on June 25, 2025, and presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat M. O. Kekere-Ekun.
Justice Ogunmoye’s appointment capped weeks of anticipation following the NJC’s release of the names of shortlisted judicial candidates for public scrutiny on May 7, 2025.
Though petitions were filed against the Ekiti nomination process, the Council clarified that the three complaints it received were not considered based on its prior resolution and due to non-compliance with procedural requirements.
Ogunmoye emerged as the preferred candidate to Justice Ogunyemi Isaac Olusegun, following rigorous screening and interviews by the NJC’s 8-member Interview Committee in accordance with the 2023 Revised Guidelines and Procedural Rules for Judicial Appointments.
Meanwhile, the NJC recommended Justice Abba Mammadi as the new Grand Kadi of Yobe State and nominated Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar, for appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Imo Judiciary Rocked by Scandal
More dramatically, the NJC ordered the compulsory retirement of 10 judges in the Imo State Judiciary, citing grave ethical violations.
Nine of the judges were found to have falsified their birth records in an attempt to extend their tenure beyond the constitutionally permitted age.
They include five High Court judges:
1. Justice M. E. Nwagboso
2. Justice B. C. Iheka
3. Justice K. A. Leaweanya
4. Justice Okereke Chinyere Ngozi
5. Justice Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi
And four judges from the Customary Court of Appeal:
6. Justice Tennyson Nze
7. Justice Ofoha Uchenna
8. Justice Everyman Eleanya
9. Justice Rosemond Ibe
The tenth judge, Justice T. N. Nzeukwu, was retired for presenting himself for swearing-in as Acting Chief Judge of Imo State despite being fourth in the judicial hierarchy, a direct violation of Section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution.
His appointment was deemed unconstitutional and orchestrated in defiance of established judicial order.
The NJC also directed the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, to immediately swear in the most senior judge of the state judiciary as the Acting Chief Judge.
In its probe, the Council exonerated the President of the Imo State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice V. U. Okorie, who had chaired the commission that nominated Justice Nzeukwu.
Okorie was found to have formally dissented from the controversial recommendation.
Mixed Outcomes from Investigations
The Council had received 18 separate petitions against Imo judges. After thorough investigation and interrogation of discrepancies in their records, it cleared several judges.
Those fully exonerated with no discrepancy in their dates of birth include:
Justice I. O. Agugua
Justice C. A. Ononeze-Madu
Justice L. C. Azuama
Two other judges, Justices Vincent I. Onyeka and Vivian O. B. Ekezie, were absolved after providing satisfactory explanations for inconsistencies.
However, they were directed to maintain the birth dates recorded by the Council of Legal Education in all official documents.
Four additional judges were found to have genuinely corrected their birthdates to their disadvantage and were not penalised. They include:
Justice P. U. Nnodum
Justice Alma Ngozi Eluwa
Justice Matthew Chinedu Ijezie
Justice Ononogbo Chidi Linus
Other Appointments Across States
Beyond Ekiti and Imo States, the NJC also recommended the appointment of 18 judicial officers across other jurisdictions:
Cross River State High Court:
Justice Glory Bassey Edu
Justice Melody Bassey Irem
Ogun State High Court:
Justice Adebayo Julius Ojikutu
Justice Adejumoke Oluwatoyin Adewole
Justice Oluyemisi Olukemi Adebo
Zamfara State High Court:
Justice Sirajo Aliyu Garba
Justice Rabi Bashir
Justice Nasiru Abdullahi
Sharia Court of Appeal, Zamfara State:
Kadi Jibril Ibrahim
Kadi Sanusi Magami Muhammed
Kadi Shaa’ban Mansur
Sharia Court of Appeal, Plateau State:
Kadi Kabir Adam Badamasi
Customary Court of Appeal, Ebonyi State:
Justice Lynda Nneka Ogodo
Katsina State High Court:
Justice Fadila Muhammad Dikko
Justice Shamsudden Abdulrahman
Justice Maryham Umaru Abdullahi
Justice Abubakar Dikko Mohammed
Misconduct Sanctions and Reprimands
In disciplinary matters, the NJC sanctioned several judges over abuse of office, delayed judgments, and other ethical violations.
Notably, Justice Isaac J. Essien of the National Industrial Court was barred from promotion to a higher court for three years.
He was found guilty of misconduct for ordering the confiscation of over N1 billion from the Nasarawa State Government, despite a pending appeal and stay of execution.
He also failed to recuse himself from the matter despite a clear conflict of interest, having once been an employee of the State University involved in the dispute.
Justice Essien was also criticised for using official court letterhead to request gratuity payment and for personally visiting the Court of Appeal registry, conduct deemed grossly inappropriate.
The NJC further cautioned:
Justice Rahman A. Oshodi – for misuse of judicial discretion in Suit No. ID/232/53C/23.
Justice Daniel Okungbowa, Chief Judge of Edo State, for similar issues in Suit No. B1/555/2020.
Justice G. B. Okolosi (Delta State High Court), received a final warning for habitual delays in judgment, breaching Section 294(1) of the Constitution.
Justice Sa’adatu I. Mark (Federal High Court) – cautioned for delivering judgment beyond the 90-day constitutional limit.
Petitions Dismissed or Withdrawn
The Council reviewed 30 petitions in total during the meeting. It dismissed 22 for lacking merit, empanelled four for further inquiry, and cautioned four judges. Several petitions were dismissed after complainants withdrew them.
Petitions against the following judges were dismissed:
Justice A. M. Liman and Justice S. A. Amobeda (Federal High Court, Kano Division)
Justice Muhammad Auwal Haruna
Justice Binta Fatima Murtala Nyako
Justice Nyako was cleared of allegations of judgment delays and improper conduct concerning property litigation.
Pending cases against Justice A. M. Liman (in a different matter) and Justice Yusuf Halilu (FCT High Court) were suspended as sub judice.
Additionally, the NJC blacklisted a serial petitioner, Peter N. Ekemezie, barring him from submitting further complaints, citing abuse of the complaint process.
Political Interference Flagged in Benue
The NJC absolved the Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice M. A. Ikpambese, of all wrongdoing after examining petitions filed by the state’s Attorney-General, Fidelis Bemsen Mnyim, and two other lawyers.
The Council found the petitions to be politically motivated, aimed at removing the Chief Judge.
In a sharp rebuke, the NJC resolved to report Attorney-General Mnyim to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for unethical conduct and interference with judicial independence.
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