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FULL LIST: NJC sends 10 Judges on compulsory retirement, recommends 21 for appointment

Published

1 year ago

June 27, 2025

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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.

PROMISES DELIVERED

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Soludo threatens to arrest, prosecute fake Traditional Rulers in Anambra

Published

12 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

Anambra Gov Chukwuma Soludo

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The government also directed residents and Presidents-General of town unions across the state to report individuals who unlawfully assume traditional ruler titles or perform functions reserved for duly recognised traditional rulers.

The warning was contained in a letter dated July 22, 2026, signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Ifeanyi Ezeaka, Esq., and addressed to Presidents-General of town unions in the state.

According to the commissioner, the directive followed reports received by the state government concerning individuals who allegedly parade themselves, allow themselves to be addressed or portrayed as traditional rulers, or perform functions legally reserved for recognised traditional rulers despite not having been formally recognised by the Anambra State Government.

The government stressed that under the Traditional Rulers Law of Anambra State, 2007, only a person duly selected, appointed and formally recognised by the state government in accordance with the law is entitled to function as, or present himself as the recognised traditional ruler of a town or community.

According to the government, the law makes it a criminal offence punishable with imprisonment for any person who has not been recognised by the Governor as a traditional ruler to parade himself as one, permit himself to be portrayed or addressed as a traditional ruler, or perform any function or ceremony reserved for a recognised traditional ruler.

The state government consequently announced its decision to prosecute individuals found to be unlawfully parading themselves as traditional rulers, assuming reserved traditional titles or performing functions legally designated for recognised traditional rulers.

The Commissioner therefore directed Presidents-General of town unions to submit complaints to the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs and the Ministry of Justice against persons within their communities who are allegedly violating the provisions of the law.

The letter:

PROMISES DELIVERED

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40 abducted as bandits raid 11 communities in Zamfara

Published

14 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

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No fewer than 40 residents from 11 communities in the Mayanchi District of Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been abducted by armed bandits.

It was gathered that the attackers are loyalists of a notorious bandit kingpin, Kachalla Sa’idu, with most of the abducted victims reportedly women and children.

Sources said Kachalla Sa’idu has long terrorised communities in Maru, Maradun and Talata Mafara local government areas of the state.

A visit to some of the affected communities revealed scores of women and children hurriedly packing their belongings and fleeing for fear of further attacks and abductions.

A resident, Alhaji Lauwali Abdullahi, said that about a week ago, gunmen loyal to Kachalla Sa’idu invaded Garagi village in an attempt to abduct residents.

According to him, villagers resisted the attack, killing one of the bandits and seizing his rifle.

He said the bandit leader subsequently threatened to attack all neighbouring communities up to Mayanchi town unless the rifle was returned.

Another source disclosed that Kachalla Sa’idu sent a message to community leaders threatening to kill all those currently being held captive if his seized rifle was not returned or replaced with another firearm.

Chairman of Maru Local Government Area, Hon. Bello Jabaka, confirmed the incident, saying the council was aware of the security situation in the Mayanchi District.

He said the local government, in collaboration with security agencies, was taking steps to restore peace and address the worsening insecurity in the area.

Jabaka acknowledged that bandits had continued to terrorise communities across the local government, stressing that urgent measures were needed to tackle the menace.

Mayanchi District is a strategic area linking Sokoto State with the Niger Republic, as well as Zuru Local Government Area of Kebbi State and parts of Niger State. (The Guardian)

PROMISES DELIVERED

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Mbah advocates experiential learning, unveils Enugu’s human development model at UNN convocation

Published

15 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

Enugu Gov Peter Mbah

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Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has called for a fundamental overhaul of Nigeria’s education system, urging schools to focus on producing problem-solvers and innovators rather than graduates armed only with certificates.

Speaking on Thursday while delivering the 55th Convocation Lecture of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Mbah said education must become the driving force for restoring human dignity through experiential learning, innovation and inclusive prosperity.

Delivering the lecture titled, “Restoring the Dignity of Man: Enugu’s Quantum Leap in Human Development and Inclusive Prosperity Through Experiential Learning,” the governor described UNN’s motto as a timeless mission whose relevance has become even greater in the era of artificial intelligence, biotechnology and the knowledge economy.

He argued that true development should be measured by citizens’ ability to transform knowledge into productivity and shared prosperity rather than by physical infrastructure alone.

“True dignity exists when people possess not merely the freedom to aspire, but the capability to transform aspiration into achievement, potential into productivity, and possibility into shared prosperity,” he said.

Mbah said Enugu’s education reforms were inspired by the Igbo apprenticeship system, which, according to him, embodies learning by doing, mentorship, trust, discipline and entrepreneurship.

“Our purpose is not to romanticise the past, but to apply its deepest principle to the future. This is why we embraced experiential learning—not as a foreign educational idea, but as a modern expression of our knowledge tradition and a twenty-first-century development imperative,” he said.

The governor explained that through experiential learning, the state seeks to democratise opportunities by ensuring that access to quality education, technology, healthcare, infrastructure, mentorship, capital and connectivity is no longer determined by birthplace, income or social status.

He disclosed that the Centre for Experiential Learning and Innovation (CELI), Enugu, is driving reforms in curriculum development, teacher training, research, digital literacy, technical education and industry partnerships to bridge what he described as the “activation gap” between knowledge and opportunity.

Mbah said his administration’s vision of growing Enugu’s economy from about $4.4 billion to $30 billion is anchored on human capital development rather than conventional infrastructure projects alone.

He noted that about one-thirds of the state’s annual budget has consistently been allocated to education, leading to the construction of 268 Smart Green Schools across the state’s 260 political wards, equipped with smart classrooms, laboratories, digital libraries, innovation studios, clinics, smart farms, solar power and internet connectivity.

According to him, over 23,000 teachers have undergone digital literacy training, while the state has approved the recruitment of 4,698 teachers to strengthen the Smart Green School initiative.

The governor added that students in the state’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges were already receiving practical industry training in ICT, mechatronics, aquaponics, precision welding, fashion and design through partnerships with industries, including the Enugu Haier Factory.

He also announced plans to establish three specialised universities dedicated to Artificial Intelligence and Technology, Education and Technology, and Agriculture, Agro-industrialisation and Technology, while new degree programmes in Automation, Artificial Intelligence and Mechatronics have already been introduced at ESUT and IMT.

To demonstrate the impact of experiential learning, Mbah narrated the story of Arinze Edeoga, a pupil of a Smart Green School in rural Owo community, who recently taught digital literacy to pupils in Enugu metropolis.

“A village child became a teacher of urban peers. In Arinze, you see restored confidence, democratized opportunity and a child once defined by geography becoming a creator of knowledge rather than merely a consumer of it. You see the dignity of man,” he said.

Mbah, however, said education reforms alone would not guarantee prosperity unless supported by investments in healthcare, electricity, roads, aviation, tourism and technology, stressing that Enugu’s development strategy integrates all sectors into a single human development architecture.

He cited projects such as the 300-bed Enugu International Hospital, the transport terminals, Enugu Air, the expansion of primary healthcare centre, the Enugu Command tourism infrastructure, and the proposed 660-megawatt power plant, as interconnected investments designed to unlock productivity, attract investment and improve citizens’ quality of life.

Mbah concluded by urging governments, universities, communities and the private sector to reject what he described as the “poverty of imagination,” insisting that the future belongs to societies willing to invest boldly in human capability.

“Let us measure leadership by the capabilities it develops in others, education by the lives learners become able to shape, and development by the dignity and opportunity it extends to every citizen,” he said.

Meanwhile, in their various remarks, the Vice Chancellor of UNN, Prof. Simon Ortuanya and Chairman of the event and former Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo commended Mbah’s milestones in human capital development.

They noted that Mbah had, in three years, made a resounding impact in development across all sectors.

The event was attended by notable dignitaries, including the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai; Deputy Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Ezenta Ezeani; Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh and Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Most Rev Godfrey Igwebuike Onah and Senator Ikeje Asogwa.