The National Judicial Council (NJC), chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, has issued suspensions to two High Court judges following accusations of misconduct.
Justice G.C. Aguma from the Rivers State High Court and Justice A.O. Nwabunike from the Anambra State High Court have both been suspended for one year without pay. After the suspension, they will remain under the NJC’s watch for an additional two years.
Additionally, the NJC has recommended the forced retirement of Justice Chukwuemeka Chikeka, Chief Judge of Imo State, and Kadi Babagana Mahdi, Grand Kadi of Yobe State, due to discrepancies in their stated ages. The Council concluded that both judges had falsified their birth records to extend their tenure.
In a separate decision, Justice Peter Lifu was exonerated by the NJC, which found no evidence of personal interest or misconduct in a Rivers State case. Allegations of bribery against him were also dismissed as baseless.
These actions were confirmed during the NJC’s 107th meeting on November 13-14, 2024, as detailed in a statement by NJC Deputy Director (Information) Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, Esq., on Friday.
The Council also reviewed a report from its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee, which had evaluated 30 petitions. As a result, six committees were set up for further investigation, while 22 complaints were dismissed for lack of merit, and two were marked as sub judice. Furthermore, the NJC initiated an investigation into allegations against Hon. Justice O.A. Ojo, Chief Judge of Osun State.
Justice G.C. Aguma was found to have facilitated improper proceedings by aiding a litigant who had secured a judgment in Abuja’s High Court, yet pursued a garnishee order against the judgment debtors in Rivers State’s Bori Division High Court. The Council criticized Justice Aguma for failing to question why the case was moved to his court, especially given that the judgment was issued in Abuja and a stay of execution had been granted by the Bwari High Court.
Justice A.O. Nwabunike was found to have violated Rule 3.1 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers (2016). The NJC stated that he improperly reinterpreted legal terms, issued ex parte orders without the proper filings, and misused his judicial authority.
In the case of Justice Chukwuemeka Chikeka, the NJC recommended his retirement, effective from October 27, 2021, after uncovering inconsistencies in his birth records. Initially listed as being born on October 27, 1956, Justice Chikeka later swore an affidavit in 2006 to change his birth date to October 27, 1958. The Council also advised that his excess salaries from October 27, 2021, to the present be refunded.
Similarly, Kadi Babagana Mahdi was found to have used multiple birth dates—December 10, January 28, and July (all in 1959)—with the NJC confirming his true birth year as 1952. According to the NJC, Kadi Mahdi should have retired 12 years ago, and it recommended his immediate compulsory retirement to the Yobe State Governor. Additionally, he is expected to return all salary and allowances received over the past 12 years.
Lastly, the NJC issued a caution to Justice I.A. Jamil of Kogi State, advising him to exercise greater care in handling sensitive cases in the future.
