The National Judicial Council, which is led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, has said that two Heads of Court should quit because they have done things that are against the law.
At its 107th meeting, which took place on November 13th and 14th, 2024, the council said that the Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka, and the Grand Kadi of Yobe State, Kadi Babagana Mahdi, should both quit because they lied about their age.
Such information was shared in a letter written by Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, the council’s Deputy Director of Information, on Friday in Abuja.
The statement says that the council found that Kadi had three different birth dates in 1959, all in the year 1959 (December 10, January 28, and July). However, his real birthday was February 28, 1952.
The council also found that Justice Chikeka was born on two different dates: October 27, 1956, and October 27, 1958.
The statement said, “However, October 27, 1956, seemed to be the consistent date of birth. However, in 2006, the Chief Judge swore to an affidavit changing the date of birth to October 27, 1958.”
The council also put two judges on a “Watch-List” for two years and suspended them from their jobs for a year without pay.
In particular, the council told Justice G. C. Aguma of the High Court of Rivers State that he could not do his job as a judge for one year without pay and put him on a “Watch-List” for another two years.
Also, Justice A. O. Nwabunike of the Anambra State High Court was not allowed to do his job as a judge for one year without pay and was put on a “Watch-List” for another two years.
The statement said that the council looked at the report of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee, which looked at 30 petitions in total. It then sent six groups to look into the cases further, while 22 were thrown out because they didn’t have enough evidence and two were still being considered by the court.
The council also set up a group to look into all the complaints and petitions against Hon. Justice O. A. Ojo, who is the Chief Judge of Osun State.
“The council also set up a Committee to look into all petitions and complaints against Hon. Justice O. A. Ojo, who is the Chief Judge of Osun State.”
“The council’s report showed that Justice G. C. Aguma did something wrong when he helped a litigant get a judgment at the FCT High Court in Abuja and then filed a garnishee against judgment debtors in the Bori Division of the High Court in Rivers State.”
The council thinks that Justice Aguma didn’t ask any questions about why the garnishee case was brought to his court in Bori for a money ruling that could be used in Abuja.
“That the judgment was given at the High Court of the FCT on July 15, 2020, and the certificate of judgment was filed at the High Court of Rivers State’s Bori Division on July 16, 2020.”
They also think that the fact that Hon. Justice Aguma quickly issued the order absolute against the judgment debtors showed that he had a stake in the case, especially since he didn’t take into account the fact that the Bwari High Court had put a stay on the execution of the judgment in favor of the judgment debtors, which was brought to his attention.
The council also said that Justice Nwabunike of Anambra State had broken Rule 3.1 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2016.
“He also broke the rule of stare decisis by having a different understanding of the word “aspirant,” and the statement said, “He abused his judicial powers by giving ex parte orders without a Motion on Notice being filed along with the Originating Summons.”
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