November 15, 2024
By Idris Buba
The National Judicial Council, NJC, under the Chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, at its 107th Meeting of 13 and 14 November 2024, sanctioned five serving judicial officers for various acts of misconduct.
Specifically, the Council at its meeting on Thursday, suspended Justice G. C. Aguma of High Court of Rivers State from performing judicial functions for a period of one year without pay and also placed him on “Watch-List” for two years thereafter.
Hon. Justice A. O. Nwabunike of Anambra State High Court, was also suspended from performing judicial functions for one year without pay and placed on “Watch-List” for two years thereafter.
READ MORE; Edwin Clark urges CJN Kekere-Ekun to overhaul judiciary.
The council recommended Two Heads of Court, Hon. Justice T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka of Imo State and Hon. Kadi Babagana Mahdi of Yobe State, were recommended for compulsory retirement due to falsification of their ages.
The Council discovered that Hon. Justice Chikeka had two different birth dates, while Hon. Kadi Mahdi had three different birth dates, with his actual birth year being 1952, not 1959. As a result, they should have retired 12 years ago.
The Council also considered the Report of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee, which considered a total number of 30 petitions, empaneled 6 Committees for further investigation.
While 22 were dismissed for lacking in merit, two were sub-judice.
Additionally,the NJC empaneled a Committee to investigate all complaints and petitions against Hon. Justice O. A. Ojo, Chief Judge, Osun State.
