IMO: Assembly recommends sack of chief judge over alleged age falsification

During a plenary at the House of Assembly,  two-third majority of the lawmakers overwhelmingly voted in favour of recommendations of the house adhoc-committee set up to look into a petition brought by a civil society group under the aegis of Civil Society Engagement Platform against the chief judge for age falsification.

The recommendation prayed the governor,  Hope Uzodimma, to remove Justice Chukwuemeka-Chikeka from office for alleged misconduct, under Section 292 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

The house also recommended the resolution be forwarded to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for further and necessary action.

Earlier, the house set up a four-man adhoc committee for proper investigations and detailed report,  following a petition brought before the house by  the Civil Society Engagement Platform (CSEP)with the caption, “Petition Against The Chief Judge of Imo State, Hon Justice Theresa Chukwuemeka Chikeka For Age Falsification Which Is A Grave Criminal Offence And An Act For Which Many Other Judges And Justices Have Been Summarily Dismissed And Some Are Currently Being Prosecuted By The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission  (ICPC).”

Consequently, according to the said provisions of Section 292(1) (a)(ii)of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the petition was referred to an adhoc committee with the following as members, Hon Ikenna Ihezue(chairman), Hon Bernard Ozoemenam(member), Rt Hon Clinton Amadi (member) and Hon Ebonine Beneath (member) with Mrs Anne Martins Ezirim as clerk of the committee.

In carrying out its assignment, the committee invited relevant persons and institutions who made oral and documentary submissions, which enabled the committee to make recommendations that were considered by the committee of the whole house.

Justice Chukwuemeka- Chikeka is said to have refused to honour the committee’s invitation through a letter she sent to the House on Friday, the 12th of July, 2024 citing the I999 Constitution as a reason for not appearing while saying she would only appear before a panel set up by the NJC.