News
FULL LIST: NJC sends 10 Judges on compulsory retirement, recommends 21 for appointment
Being unedited statement issued Thursday evening, June 26, 2025, and signed by NJC Deputy Director (Information), Kemi Babalola Ogedengbe
The National Judicial Council (NJC) at its 109th Meeting presided over by the Honourable, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat M. O. Kekere-Ekun, GCON, held on 25 June 2025 has recommended two Hon. Judges for appointment as Heads of Court for Ekiti and Yobe States, respectively.
The Heads of Court are:
Hon. Justice Adekanye Lekan Ogunmoye, Chief Judge, Ekiti State; and Hon. Kadi Abba Mammadi as Grand Kadi, Yobe State.
Similarly, Council has also recommended Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar, Esq. to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for appointment as Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The recommendations followed a careful consideration of various public complaints made against shortlisted candidates for the various positions and a rigorous interview by an 8- Member Interview Committee of the Council in line with the 2023 Revised NJC Guidelines and Procedural Appointment of Judicial Officers.
The remaining successful recommended for appointment as Judges for different Jurisdictions are as follows:
TWO HIGH COURT JUDGES FOR CROSS RIVER STATE
i) Edu, Glory Bassey
i) Irem, Melody Bassey
THREE HIGH COURT JUDGES FOR OGUN STATE
Adebayo Julius Adewole, Adejumoke Oluwatoyin Adebo, Oluyemisi Olukemi
THREE HIGH COURT JUDGES FOR ZAMFARA STATE i) Garba, Sirajo Aliyu
1) Bashir, Rabi
iii) Abdullahi, Nasiru
THREE KADIS FOR SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, ZAMFARA STATE
Ibrahim, Jibril
Muhammed, Sanusi Magami
Shaa’ ban Mansur
ONE KADI FOR SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, PLATEAU STATE
i) Badamasi, Kabir Adam
ONE JUDGE FOR CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, EBONYI STATE
i) Ogodo, Lynda Nneka
FOUR HIGH COURT JUDGES FOR KATSINA STATE
i) Dikko, Fadila Muhammad
ii) Abdulrahman, Shamsudden Yammama
iii) Abdullahi, Maryham Umaru
iv) Mohammed, Abubakar Dikko
It would be recalled that the Council had at its 108th Meeting held on 29 and 30 April 2025, approved a new policy to publish the names of candidates for consideration for appointment as Judicial Officers and invited public input.
A flurry of 86 public comments and complaints were received by the Council and 73 of them were favourable representing 85%, while 13 were adverse representing 15%.
However, out of the Thirteen (13) complaints, Five (5) had no accompanying verifying affidavits in breach of the publication guidelines and were not considered.
In view of the Council’s resolution, at its 27h Emergency Meeting held on 3 February 2025, relating to the appointment of the Chief Judge, Ekiti State, Council did not consider the Three (3) complaints relating thereto.
Five (5) complaints were considered against the appointment relating to the High Courts of Plateau and Kano States and the Sharia Courts of Appeal of Zamfara and Katsina States.
Flowing from this, Council dismissed Four (4) of the complaints, but found merit in one and dropped the affected candidate.
Meanwhile, the Council has approved the voluntary retirement of the following Judicial Officers:
i) Hon. Justice Babatunde Ademola Bakre of the Ogun State High Court.
ii) Hon. Justice H. O. Ajayi of the Kwara State High Court.
In the meantime, the Council has recommended compulsory retirement of ten Judges of Imo State Judiciary.
Nine (9) of the affected Judges of the Imo State Judiciary were found to have altered their dates of birth in their official records
in order to confer on themselves the undue advantage of staying longer in service while the other Judicial Officer, Hon. Justice .T N. Nzeukwu was found to have made himself available to be sworn in as acting Chief Judge of Imo State High Court knowing fully well that he was number four in the hierarchy of Judges of the Imo State Judiciary and contrary to Section 271.
(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
The nine Judges found to have falsified their records, comprising five (5) High Court Judges and four Judges of the
Customary Court of Appeal, Imo State are:
1. Hon Justice M. E. Nwagboso (High Court) 2. Hon Justice B. C. Theka (High Court)
3. Hon Justice K. A. Leaweanya (High Court)
.4 Hon Justice Okereke Chinyere Ngozi (High Court)
5. Hon Justice Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi (High Court)
6. Hon Justice Tennyson Nze (Customary Court of Appeal)
7. Hon Justice Ofoha Uchenna (Customary Court of Appeal)
8. Hon Justice Everyman Eleanya (Customary Court of Appeal)
9. Hon Justice Rosemond Ibe (Customary Court of Appeal)
Hon. Justice .T N. Nzeukwu was sanctioned for making himself available to be sworn into office as acting Chief Judge of Imo State.
The President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Imo State, Hon Justice V. U. Okorie who chaired the Commission that nominated Hon. Justice Nzeukwu as acting Chief Judge was however absolved, having dissented on record against the recommendation to appoint Hon. Justice T. N. Nzeukwu as acting Chief Judge.
Council however reiterated its earlier direction to the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma to swear in the most Senior Judge of the State as the acting Chief Judge.
Council took the decision after consideration of the reports of its Investigation Committee on allegations of age falsification against eighteen (18) Judges of the Imo state judiciary on the one hand and the queries issued to Hon. Justices V. U. Okorie and T. N. Nzeukwu.
The Council however dismissed, for want of merit, similar allegations against three Judges of the State High Court whose dates of birth were found to bear no discrepancy.
Six High Court Judges of the State, whose dates of birth either had discrepancies but with acceptable explanations or with discrepancies arising from genuine correction of their dates of birth to their disadvantage, were also exonerated.
The Judges whose dates of birth were found to bear no discrepancy are:
.1 Hon Justice .I O. Agugua (High Court)
2. Hon Justice C. A. Ononeze-Madu (High Court)
3. Hon Justice L. C. Azuama (High Court)
The two Judges given a clean bill of health owing to provision of acceptable explanation for discrepancies in their dates of birth are:
1. Hon Justice Vincent I. Onyeka (High Court)
2. Hon Justice Vivian O. B. Ekezie (High Court)
Council directed that Hon. Justice Onyeka and Hon. Justice Ekezie must maintain the date of birth supplied by the Council of Legal Education in their official records.
Four other Judges absolved on account that they genuinely corrected their dates of birth to their disadvantage are:
.1 Hon Justice P. U. Nodum (High Court)
.2 Hon. Justice Alma Ngozi Eluwa (High Court)
.3 Hon. Justice Matthew Chinedu Ijezie (High Court)
4. Hon Justice Ononogbo Chidi Linus (High Court)
The Council has also reiterated its earlier direction to the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, to appoint the most Senior Judicial Officer as the acting Chief Judge of the Imo State High Court.
Council, in further deliberation, barred a Judge of the National Industrial Court, Hon. Justice Isaac J. Essien, from being considered for promotion to a Higher Court for three years due to misconduct.
Council found that Hon. Justice Essien wrongly ordered the confiscation of over N1 billion belonging to the Nasarawa State Government and its Local Government Councils, despite being aware that there was a pending appeal and a pending application for stay of execution.
Council also noted that he refused to step aside from the case after the Nasarawa State Government raised concerns about possible bias.
Hon. Justice Essien was a former staff member of the State University, which owed him gratuity, and he had earlier demanded payment using the official letterhead of the Court – a clear breach of Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.
Council further criticized him for personally visiting the Court of Appeal registry to confirm if an appeal had been filed in the case — an action considered highly inappropriate for a Judge.
His Lordship was found to have violated several rules in the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers and was reprimanded and barred from elevation to a higher judicial office for a period of (3) three years.
Council also considered the reports of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees, which contained a total number of 30 petitions against various Judicial Officers. Four (4) Committees were empanelled for further investigation, four (4) Judges were cautioned, while 2 petitions were dismissed for lacking in merit.
Council cautioned Hon. Justice Rahman A. Oshodi, over misuse of judicial discretion in Suit No. ID/232/53C/23.
Hon. Justice Daniel Okungbowa, Chief Judge Edo State was also cautioned over abuse of his judicial discretion in Suit No.
B1/555/2020 and was advised to exercise his discretion judicially and judiciously in future.
Council issued a final warning to Hon. Justice G. B. Okolosi of the Delta State High Court for continued flouting Section 294 (1) of the 1999 Constitution and Hon. Justice Sa’adatu .I Mark, Federal High Court received caution for delivering judgment after constitutional 90 days.
Petition against Chief Judge, Benue State, Hon. Justice M. A. Ikpambese:
Council deliberated on the report of the investigation Committee in respect of three petitions by Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Fidelis Bemsen Mnyim, Guana Benjamin Joseph, Esq., and Terhemen Ngbea against Hon. Justice M. A. Ikpambese and absolved the Chief Judge from any judicial wrong doings, the petitions having ben found to be lacking in merit.
It noted that all the petitions presented against him were with sole aim to remove him from his position.
Council was particularly concerned about the role of the Attorney-General of the State, Fidelis Bemsen Mnyim, Esq., in the scheme to remove the Chief Judge and resolved to report him to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for necessary action.
Council dismissed petitions against four other Judges:
1. Hon. Justice A. M. Liman of the Federal High Court, Kano Division (Petition by Abdullahi Baffa Bichi)
2. Hon. Justice S. A. Amobeda (Petition by Abdullahi Baffa Bichi)
3 Hon. Justice Muhammad Auwal Haruna (Petition by Abdulrazaq Banaru Abubakar)
4. Hon. Justice Binta Fatima Murtala Nyako (Petition by Kabiru S. Chafe)
The joint petition against Hon. Justices A. M. Liman and S. A. Amobeda, and the petition against Hon. Justice Muhammad Auwal Haruna were withdrawn and accordingly dismissed.
Hon. Justice Binta Fatima Murtala Nyako was exonerated as the Council found no merit in the petition accusing her of delaying judgment and issuing an order on a property while the case was ongoing.
Further action was suspended in respect of petitions against Hon. Justice A. M. Liman by Kenneth Okere (in a different case) and Hon. Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court for being sub judice.
The Council, however blacklisted one Peter N. Ekemezie a serial petitioner from presenting further petitions before it.
A mammoth crowd welcomed the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, as he made a triumphant entry into Benin City, Edo State, despite a warning earlier issued by Governor Monday Okpebholo.
Obi’s arrival has continued to generate reactions across the state, with supporters turning out in large numbers to receive the former Anambra State governor.
The development comes amid heightened political attention in Edo, as Obi’s visit appears to have tested the resolve of the state government following the governor’s earlier warning.
Edo Go Ikpebholo and Peter Obi, NDC Presidential candidate
Videos from the event showed enthusiastic supporters chanting and cheering as Obi arrived in the city, further fueling discussions over his growing political presence and the significance of the visit.
Governor Okpebholo, had on July 18 2025, warned the NDC candidate against visiting Edo State without prior notification and official security clearance.
The governor’s decision sparked backlash from concerned citizens, who argued that the former Anambra State governor has the right to visit any state in Nigeria.
However, Obi on Wednesday stormed Benin City, the Edo State capital, to join Catholic faithful, clergymen and other dignitaries at the service of songs and other funeral activities in honour of the late Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City, Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze.
A viral video showed a large crowd excited supporters welcoming Obi into the state.
Hundreds of residents were seen lining the streets at night as Obi’s convoy made its way towards the Holy Cross Cathedral.
The development has continued to generate reactions on social media, with some netizens questioning the silence of Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, following Obi’s arrival.
Popular television host, Rufai Oseni, in a post on his official X handle, wrote, “Dear Okpebholo, Obi is in Edo oooo.”
Similarly, social media commentator Benkingsley Nwashara said Obi’s arrival was unannounced, yet residents turned out in large numbers to welcome him.
“Word quickly spread that Obi was in town. Edo youths left their homes at night, gathered in large numbers, and turned up to welcome and celebrate him.
“No campaign announcement. No mobilisation. They simply heard Peter Obi was around and showed up,” he wrote on X.
Another influencer, Manju Vic, wrote, “Hello Nigerians, D7 told Peter Obi not to set foot in Edo.
“Peter Obi went to Benin, walked through the streets, and hundreds of people came out to give him a triumphant entry.”
Similarly, an X user Freeman (@freeman_stv) said the crowd was visibly excited to see Obi, with many residents gathering around him to take pictures.
“The crowd was so excited to see him. Many people gathered around, taking pictures and trying to get close to him.
“It even took Peter Obi some time to enter the venue because of the huge crowd. This man is really loved,” he wrote.
Watch Video Below
News
ICPC exposes Payroll Scandal: Official paying 14 family members, another worker collects 13 salaries
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has uncovered cases of ghost workers allegedly inserted into government payrolls, including an official who enrolled 14 members of his family and another who allegedly collected 13 salaries.
The ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Economic Confidential Lecture and National Spokespersons Award, organised by Image Merchants Promotions Limited.
Aliyu said the commission’s investigation into ghost workers had exposed how individuals manipulated government payroll systems to receive multiple salaries.
He said, “We discovered that one person enrolled 14 members of his family. He lived in a religious hotel, a hotel at the public office, receiving salaries.”
The ICPC chairman added that another individual allegedly enrolled his wife, daughter, son and other family members and received 13 salaries.
“Another person enrolled his wife, his daughter, his son, and others and was receiving 13 salaries,” he said.
Aliyu said the commission had also identified about 900 suspected ghost workers and published their names, challenging them to prove that they were genuine employees.
“We now secured income of about 900 ghost workers, which we published their names in papers,” he said.
He explained that the commission subsequently spent about a year investigating the suspected ghost workers, uncovering the methods used to insert fictitious names into government payrolls.
“We spent one year, one single year, on ghost workers,” Aliyu said.
According to him, in some cases, the names of the alleged ghost workers appeared on official payrolls with email addresses, while the bank account details were linked to other individuals.
“When they insert their names, you will see their name in the payroll. You will see their email. But when you check the account number, you will see the name of the person. So, that is how these things have been done,” he explained.
Aliyu warned that the consequences of ghost workers extended beyond salaries, saying fraudulent entries could also result in ghost pensions, housing, health insurance and other benefits.
“Because, you know, once there is a ghost worker, there is ghost pension, there is ghost mortgage, there is ghost housing fund, there is ghost health insurance,” he said.
He said the commission’s intervention was aimed at protecting public resources and strengthening the economy, noting that fraudulent payroll practices imposed additional costs on the country.
The ICPC chairman also disclosed that the commission recovered more than N24bn in ghost pension funds in 2024.
“In 2024, we recovered over N24 billion ghost workers pension,” Aliyu said.
He said the commission had adopted cross-agency collaboration and other preventive measures to tackle corruption and recover government resources.
Aliyu stressed that the commission was increasingly focusing on preventing corruption and ensuring that government projects were properly executed rather than relying solely on criminal prosecution.
He said, “It is better for us to do that than to engage in filing criminal charges. How many charges can we file?”
The ICPC chairman said the commission had recovered or secured government resources through interventions in projects and other areas, stressing that the ultimate objective was to ensure that Nigerians benefited from public expenditure.
He also called for greater use of data and technology in combating corruption, saying effective communication and access to reliable information were essential to building public confidence in anti-corruption efforts.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of IMPR, Yusha’u Shuaib, said the lecture was organised to promote stronger governance through transparency, accountability and professional communication.
“We are honoured to host yet another gathering of leaders, professionals, scholars, and communication experts committed to strengthening governance, promoting transparency, and advancing excellence in public communication,” Shuaib said.
…Set to launch hospital, targets large share of medical tourism
_…Facility attracts outpouring of interest from diaspora medics
Ahead of the imminent inauguration of the Enugu International Hospital, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has undertaken a tour of the facility, declaring that Enugu State was ready to welcome the world.
Mbah said the hospital was now fully installed with state-of-the-art medical equipment and would help to reverse medical tourism out of the country, ensuring that the state secures a large chunk of the multibillion-dollar market.
Fielding questions from newsmen on Thursday evening after a pre-launch walkthrough of the facility situated at Rangers Avenue, Independence Layout, Enugu, Mbah said the hospital was a product of a deliberate health agenda.
“If you recall our manifesto during our campaign for office, we made it clear that we were committed to making Enugu a medical tourism hub on the continent.
“We knew the size of that market and wanted to have a good share of that market. But we knew also that it was never going to be wished into existence.
“We knew that we needed to do things differently and build a world-class facility and, most importantly, attract top-notch professionals to provide services. We cannot wait to welcome the world to Enugu,” he stated.
Mbah regretted that there was just about one functional location for PET Scan services in the country, but noted that the hospital would now bridge the wide gap in advanced medical services in the country.
“We have quite a lot of Ndi Enugu, and Nigerians who travel to India, Turkey, the United States, and the United Kingdom to seek medical attention. So, what we are asking for is just a fraction of what they would have spent overseas for the same quality services,” he said.
“We felt that if we want to compete globally, then we must also have the ability to provide advanced oncology services. Therefore, we are not only able to give you an advanced diagnosis, but we’re also able to treat. So, both diagnostically and therapeutically, the place to come to is right here in Enugu.
“We have also received an outpouring of interest from our healthcare professionals in the diaspora. Some of them were doing well here at some point and now went overseas to practice. They are now happy to come back home and give back to the society that nurtured them. We are excited about that,” he stated.
He added that the Enugu International Hospital would equally engage in telemedicine as one of its areas of strength.
“Of course, you may be in love with the building and the equipment, but you should also engage professionals from across the globe. You see this in our commitment to telemedicine, digital and electronic medical practices and equipment,” he explained.
He emphasised that the hospital was part of his administration’s agenda for the health sector as a major part of his government’s vision to grow the state’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn, and ensure high quality and increased life expectancy for the people.
“If you look at our intervention in the healthcare sector, from the primary healthcare to the secondary, tertiary, and now the quaternary, it is intentional.
“We are investing heavily in security and healthcare because we know that these are what investors would ask you: ‘Am I safe? If I fall sick, would I have a place where I can get quality medical attention?’” he said, adding that the hospital would also create jobs.
Speaking, the Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Sam Agwu, listed six specialty areas the hospital would provide services in once commissioned.
“We have earmarked six specialty centres here. In the Cancer Centre, we are going to provide medical, surgical, and nuclear medicine therapeutics and diagnostics.
“Then we are going to have the Heart and Vascular Centre of Excellence to deal with all heart problems and open-heart surgery, as you may know; cardiology consultation and diagnostics, electrophysiology and arrhythmia care, coronary care and acute cardiac pathways, interventional cardiology and cath-lab procedures, heart-failure and cardiac rehabilitation clinics, and of course vascular assessment and collaborative surgical care.
“We are going to have the Neurosciences Centre where we will deal with stroke, epilepsy, brain and spine tumours, neurosurgical procedures, among others.
“We are going to have a Renal and Transplant Centre of Excellence covering full kidney, chronic kidney disease clinics, early nephrology review, dialysis support and transplant assessment.
“Then, apart from all the centres of excellence, we are going to have wellness and regenerative medicine, while the usual departments that you know of – mother and child, general surgery, ENT, dental, ophthalmology, among others – will all be here.
Former Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Enugu State, Dr. Sunday Nwafor, hailed the milestone, saying the hospital would promote brain gain by reversing the mass exodus of medical doctors from the country.
“Going forward, our doctors have a place of international standard where they can practice with state-of-the-art equipment and also earn well,” he said.
Mbah was accompanied by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, among others.
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