The National Judicial Council (NJC), under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, has ordered Justice T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka and Kadi Babagana Mahdi to refund the salaries they received over several years and immediate retirement due to falsification of their ages.
Chikeka was ordered to refund three years’ salary, while Mahdi was directed to refund twelve years’ salary.
The Council, in a statement on Friday, also recommended the compulsory retirement of both judicial officers over the age falsification.
The decision was made during the NJC’s 107th Meeting held on 13 and 14 November 2024, according to a statement by Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, Esq., NJC Deputy Director (Information).
According to the statement, Chikeka was recommended for compulsory retirement to the Governor of Imo State, effective from 27 October 2021.
“The recommendation was made following the Council’s findings that Chikeka had two different dates of birth: 27 October 1956 and 27 October 1958. However, 27 October 1956 appeared to be the consistent date, but in 2006, the Chief Judge swore to an affidavit changing his date of birth to 27 October 1958,” the statement added.
“The Council, therefore, resolved to recommend Hon. Kadi Babagana Mahdi for compulsory retirement to the Governor of Yobe State, and that he should refund all salaries and allowances received over the past 12 years,” the NJC stated.
Furthermore, the Council suspended Hon. Justice G. C. Aguma of the High Court of Rivers State from performing judicial functions for one year without pay and placed him on a “Watch-List” for two years thereafter.
“The Council further found that the speed with which Hon. Justice Aguma granted the order absolute against the judgment debtors suggested personal interest, especially as he failed to consider the stay of execution of the judgment granted in favor of the judgment debtors by the Bwari High Court, which had been brought to his attention,” the statement read.
“The Council found that the allegations of inducements to the tune of $1 million, a bulletproof car, and a plot of land to Hon. Justice Lifu by Chief Emeka Beke, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State, were unsubstantiated,” the statement stated.
“The Council noted that the alleged acts of misconduct were actually committed by the petitioners, who filed the case at the Rivers State High Court after the case had been instituted at the Federal High Court, suggesting forum shopping,” the NJC continued.
“The Council concluded that Hon. Justice Lifu exhibited no personal interest in the matter and did not misconduct himself during the proceedings. The complaints in the petition are now subject to appeal by the petitioners, “ The statement added.
Regarding the petition filed by Dr. G. M. Giles-West Clark, Rivers State House of Assembly, against Hon. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, the Council found that the petition was not supported by a verifying affidavit and thus dismissed it.
The NJC is the apex judicial body responsible for disciplining judicial officers.