At its 109th meeting held on 25 June 2025, the National Judicial Council (NJC), under the leadership of Chief Justice Kudirat M. O. Kekere‑Ekun, resolved to recommend the compulsory retirement of ten judicial officers from Imo State. Nine were found guilty of age falsification, and one for subverting the judicial hierarchy. This decisive action follows months of investigation and highlights NJC’s renewed resolve to strengthen judicial integrity.

1. Background & Investigation Process

This sweeping decision stems from a probe triggered by a petition from the Civil Society Engagement Platform (CSEP), which detailed evidence suggesting 18 judges had manipulated their official birth records. The NJC issued queries to each and held them accountable. The Council also examined allegations against Justices V. U. Okorie and T. N. Nzeukwu for bypassing proper judicial procedures.

Imo’s judiciary has previously been under scrutiny: the NJC retired two former court heads in November 2024 after uncovering similar age-manipulation schemes. In April 2025, it summoned 18 judges for questioning.

2. Judges Found Guilty of Age Falsification

The NJC found nine judges—comprising five High Court judges and four from the Customary Court of Appeal—committed infractions by adjusting their birth dates to extend tenure illegally. The sanctioned justices include:

• Hon. Justice M. E. Nwagboso (High Court)

• Hon. Justice B. C. Iheka (High Court)

• Hon. Justice K. A. Leaweanya (High Court)

• Hon. Justice Okereke Chinyere Ngozi (High Court)

• Hon. Justice Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi (High Court)

• Hon. Justice Tennyson Nze (Customary Court of Appeal)

• Hon. Justice Ofoha Uchenna (Customary Court of Appeal)

• Hon. Justice Everyman Eleanya (Customary Court of Appeal)

• Hon. Justice Rosemond Ibe (Customary Court of Appeal)

Their deliberate age adjustments were described as a ploy to remain in service beyond legitimate retirement periods.

3. Subversion of Judicial Hierarchy

Beyond falsification, one judge exploited procedure: Justice T. N. Nzeukwu, knowing he was fourth in line, made himself available to serve as acting Chief Judge—defying Section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution. This prompted his recommendation for immediate compulsory retirement as well.

Conversely, Justice V. U. Okorie, president of the Customary Court of Appeal, was cleared. He dissented on record regarding the improper nomination and was thus absolved.

4. Judges Exonerated

Not all under scrutiny were penalized. The NJC dismissed allegations against three High Court judges whose records showed no irregularities:

• Hon. Justice I. O. Agugua

• Hon. Justice C. A. Ononeze‑Madu

• Hon. Justice L. C. Azuama

Two others—Hon. Justice Vincent I. Onyeka and Hon. Justice Vivian O. B. Ekezie—admitted discrepancies chalked up to administrative error; they were cleared after acknowledging the valid dates supplied by the Council of Legal Education.

Finally, four judges who had corrected birth-date errors detrimentally—effectively shortening their tenure—were also exonerated under the notion of genuine correction, not manipulation.

5. NJC’s Directives to the State Government

In addition to recommending retirements, NJC reaffirmed its earlier directive: Governor Hope Uzodinma must swear in the most senior judge as acting Chief Judge of the Imo State High Court.

This follows an earlier conflict when the Governor appointed the fourth-ranking judge, provoking NJC’s intervention in May 2025.

6. Historical Context of Age Falsification Cases

Age falsification among judges is not isolated to Imo:

• 2013: The NJC enforced compulsory retirement on Abia State’s Acting Chief Judge for similar infractions.

• 2018: A Delta State judge had his retirement backdated, resulting in salary reimbursement orders.

• 2020: Osun State’s Hon. Justice Abdul-Kareem Babatunde Abdulrasaq was retired and required to refund post-retirement earnings.

These precedents underscore NJC’s consistent stance: falsifying age undermines the judiciary’s credibility.

7. Impact & Importance of the Decision

The NJC’s firm stance reflects efforts to:

1. Reassert Integrity
   Judicial officers alter their age to extend careers or influence appointments. The Council’s decisive action conveys zero tolerance for such practices.

2. Reaffirm Judicial Order
   Upholding constitutional appointment processes underscores the sanctity of the rule of law.

3. Boost Public Confidence
   With repeated cases, judicial operations risk public trust. Enforcing accountability is crucial for maintaining citizens’ faith.

4. Deter Future Misconduct
   The warning to correct birth-date errors or face sanctions sends a powerful signal to the wider judiciary.

8. What Lies Ahead

• Governor’s Compliance
  Imo’s Governor must implement NJC directives—replacing Nzeukwu with the most senior judge and facilitating retirements of the nine age-falsified judges.

• Salary Recovery
  Like past cases, those found guilty may face salary deductions or repayments for service beyond retirement age.

• Further Investigations
  Remaining cases from the original 18 are pending. Additional disciplinary measures could follow.

• Judiciary-wide Implications
  Other states may follow suit, prompting a broader judicial audit and reforms across Nigeria.

• Public Watchfulness
  Civil society and legal stakeholders will scrutinize enforcement and transparency—critical to sustaining control over judicial integrity.

9. Concluding Summary

The NJC’s recommendation to retire nine judges and sanction another in Imo State reflects a critical inflection point in Nigeria’s judiciary. Their conduct—manipulating birth records and disrupting court hierarchy—compromised service tenure legitimacy. These decisive steps—mirrored in past actions across multiple states—signal a steadfast effort to purge corruption and restore integrity.

Governance now depends on swift implementation from the Imo State Government. The judiciary’s credibility and public trust hang in the balance. This moment serves not just as a reckoning but also as a foundation for future judicial accountability and reform.