The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the suspension of two judges for one year without pay.
The affected judges are Justice Ibrahim D. Shekarau of the High Court of Nasarawa State and Justice Edward A. E. Okpe of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
According to a statement issued late on Thursday by its spokesperson, Kemi Babalola, Ogendegbe, the NJC at its 111 meeting, also approved the issuance of 256 letters to judicial officers for various perlormance-related issucs.
The NJC was said to have equally rejected appeals filed by eight judges of the Imo State Judiciary seeking a reversal of their compulsory retirement from scrvice over age falsification.
It also recommended the appointment of 13 as Justices of the Court of Appeal. The NJC equally recommended one for appointment as a judge of the High Court of Benue State and two for appointment as kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Katsina State.
Those recommended for the Court of Appeal are Justice Yakubu, Abdulhammeed Mohammed, Justice Abodunde, Monisola Oluwatoyin, Justice Ajuwa, Raphael, Justice Abua, Elias Ojie and Justice Ijohor, Mbalamen Jennifer.
Others are Justice Shuaibu, Sabiu Bala, Justice Omotosho, James Kolawole, Hon. Justice Nwite, Emeka, Justice Buba, Dauda Njane, Justice Kado, Sanusi, Hon. Justice Ademola, Enikuomehin and Justice Dadom, Julcit Veronica.
*For the Benue State High Court, Christine T. Clement Ende was recommended, while Ibrahim Abdullahi Yakubu and Bala Salisu Daura were recommended for appointment as judges of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Katsina State.
The NJI’s statement said: “The Council found that the affected judges failed to present fresh evidence capable of justifying a reversal of the sanctions imposed on them.
“The judges include Hon. Justice B.C. theka, Hon. Justice K. A. Leaweanya, Hon. Justice Okereke Chinyere Ngozi, Hon. Justice Innocent Chidi Ibcawuchi, Hon. Justice Otoha Uchenna, Hon. Justice Everyman Eleanya, Hon. Justice Rosemond Ibe and Hon. Justice T. N. Nzeukwu.”
The statement added that the NJC reinstated Hon. Justice T. I. Nze of the Customary Court of Appeal after he presented new evidence to the review committee which the committee found to be authentic.
The affected judges of the Imo State Judiciary were among the 10 judicial officers recommended for compulsory retirement by the NJC at its 109th meeting held on 25 June 2025.
Nine of the 10 were found to have altered their dates of birth in official records to unlawfully extend their years in service, while Justice T. N. Nzeukwu was found to have made himself available to be sworn in as Acting Chief Judge despite being fourth in the hierarchy of Judges, contrary to Section 271(4) of the Constitution.
“The council also considered 13 investigation reports on petitions filed against Judicial Officers across the country over the handling of cases before them.
“Following deliberations, the NJC dismissed eight petitions for lack of merit, want of diligent prosecution or for being time barred, while sanctions including one-year suspension without pay were imposed in twocases where misconduct was established.
“Specifically, the Council suspended Hon. Justice Ibrahim D. Shekarau of the High Court of Nasarawa State for one year without pay for judicial misconduct involving the grant of an ex parte order in breach of Rules 3.1, 3.3 and 3.5 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2016.
“The suspension followed a pctition by Oluwafunke Obale Ozozoma over proceedings in suit No. NSD MG56M/2025.
“The petitioner alleged Hon. Justice Shekarau of granted an ex parte order directing the transfer of N7 million from her bank account to a third party third party as a purported reversal of funds. She contended that the ex parte application was filed, heard, and granted on the same day without any substantive suit pending before the court, and that the order wrongly implied her involvement in fraud despite her not being charged or made a party to the proceedings.
“She further alleged that the Judge failed to verify the alleged erroneous transfer before making the order, thereby amounting to judicial misconduct.
“The committee found that the judge acted in bad faith, failed to observe due process and demonstrated lack of professional competence.
“Similarly, the Council suspended Hon. Justice Edward A. E. Okpe of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory for one year without pay over allegations of breach of fair hearing in a matrimonial case.
“The decision followed a petition filed by Mr. Sunday Emmanuel Oso, who accused the Judge of bias and denial of fair hearing in Suit No. FCT/HC/PET/529/2024 between Latcefat Adeola Oso and Sunday Emmanuel Oso.
“In the petition, Oso alleged that “although he was served hearing notices fixing the matter for September 19, 2024, the court heard and granted an ex-parte application on September 17, 2024 without notice to him.
“He further alleged that when the matter later came up, the judge declined to hear the Motion on Notice and instead entertained committal proceedings against him based on alleged disobedience of the earlier ex-parte order.
“The committee found that Hon. Justice Okpe granted an ex parte application that led to committal proceedings against the petitioner without affording him the opportunity to be heard, contrary to Rule 3.3 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.
“The Council also deliberated on the report of 98 petitions submitted by its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees.
“Out of the petitions considered, 68 were dismissed for lack of merit, four judges were cautioned, one judge received final warning, while UT petitions were recommended tor further investigation,
The council further adopted reports suspending proceedings in some petitions on the grounds that the matters were subjudice.
“Council also resolved to refer one Mbudiwe Ossai to the InspectorGeneral of Police for investigation and prosecution for alleged perjury while Adeboye Wiliams Adewale, esq: Dr. Peter N. Ekemesic, Esq Dr. Martin Odika, Esq. and Muhamanad Passa Anmad-CGana, Exq were referred to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee tor writing, frivolous and unsubstantiated petitions calculated to harass and intimidate judicial officers.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
