NJC Orders Immediate Retirement of Two Nigerian Judges, Reimbursement of Salaries Over Age Falsification

The National Judicial Council (NJC), presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, has ordered Justices TE Chukwuemeka Chikeka and Kadi Babagana Mahdi to repay the salaries they received for several years and to retire immediately due to falsification of their age.

Chikeka was ordered to repay three years’ salary, while Mahdi was ordered to repay twelve years’ salary.

The Council, in a statement issued on Friday, also recommended the compulsory retirement of the two magistrates due to falsification of age.

The decision was taken at the 107th meeting of the NJC held on November 13-14, 2024, according to a statement by Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, Esq., NJC Deputy Director (Information).

Age falsification

According to the statement, Chikeka has been recommended for compulsory retirement to the Governor of Imo State, effective October 27, 2021.

• The statement also ordered that all salaries and allowances received in excess by Chikeka, from October 27, 2021 until today, be refunded to the Council.

“The recommendation was made following the Council’s findings that Chikeka had two different dates of birth: October 27, 1956 and October 27, 1958. However, October 27, 1956 appeared to be the consistent date, but in 2006, the Chief Justice was sworn under an affidavit changing his date of birth to October 27, 1958,” adds the press release.

• The Council also found that Kadi Mahdi had three different dates of birth – December 10, January 28 and a date in July – all in 1959, while his actual date of birth was in 1952.
• The Council held that Grand Kadi Mahdi committed an act of misconduct in violation of Rule 02908 (i) and (ii) of the Civil Service Rules, 2021, and should have retired 12 years ago.

“The Council therefore resolved to recommend the Hon. Kadi Babagana Mahdi for compulsory retirement to the Governor of Yobe State, and that he reimburse all salaries and allowances received during the last 12 years,” » declared the CNM.

More information

Additionally, the Council suspended Hon. Justice GC Aguma of the Rivers State High Court was barred from holding judicial office for one year without salary and subsequently placed on a “watch list” for two years.

• The Council concluded that Aguma committed misconduct in assisting a litigant who obtained a judgment at the FCT High Court, Abuja, and subsequently filed a suit against the judgment debtors before the Bori Division of the High Court, in Rivers State.
• The Council said Justice Aguma did not ask why the garnishment proceedings were brought before his court in Bori for a monetary judgment which could have been executed in Abuja.

“The Council further noted that the speed with which the Hon. Justice Aguma made the absolute order against the judgment debtors, suggesting self-interest, especially as he did not take into account the stay of execution of the judgment granted in favor of the judgment debtors by the High Court of Bwari, which had been brought to his attention”, » reads the statement.

• Justice AO Nwabunike of the Anambra State High Court was also suspended from judicial duties for one year without pay and placed on a “watch list” for two years thereafter.
• The Board found that it had abused its judicial powers by issuing ex parte orders without a motion for notice being filed alongside the originating summons.
• The Council also cleared Federal High Court Justices Peter Lifu and Joyce Abdulmalik of applications alleging misconduct.

“The Council concluded that the allegations of inducements to the tune of $1 million, a bulletproof car and land to the Hon. The ruling Lifu by Chief Emeka Beke, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State, was unfounded,” indicates the press release.

• It was also noted that the same parties who appeared before the Rivers State High Court also appeared before the Hon. Justice Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, failed to disclose the existence of a similar case before the Rivers State High Court.

“Council noted that the alleged acts of misconduct were actually committed by the petitioners, who filed the matter in the Rivers State High Court after the matter was initiated in the Federal High Court , which suggests a forum search.” »continued the CNM.

“The Council has concluded that the Hon. Judge Lifu showed no personal interest in the case and did not behave improperly during the proceedings. The complaints contained in the petition are now subject to appeal by the petitioners, “ The statement added.

Regarding the petition filed by Dr. GM Giles-West Clark, Rivers State House of Assembly, against Hon. According to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, the Council found that the application was not supported by an affidavit of verification and therefore dismissed it.

The NJC is the apex judicial body responsible for disciplining judicial officers.