*Clears Benue Chief Judge Ikpambese of All Misconduct Allegations
No fewer than 18 judges from the Imo State Judiciary appeared before an investigative panel of the National Judicial Council (NJC) on May 7 and 8, 2025, over allegations of age falsification and professional misconduct. The panel, led by Justice A.D. Yahaya of the Court of Appeal, is currently scrutinizing evidence, including certificates, affidavits, and Call-to-Bar records.
Sources familiar with the proceedings revealed that the panel has written to the Supreme Court and other relevant institutions to verify the authenticity of the documents submitted by the affected judges. One insider described the Appeal Court Justice leading the panel as a “no-nonsense jurist” determined to uphold integrity in the bench.
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Insider sources further alleged that some of the judges under investigation have begun lobbying influential figures within and outside the judiciary, possibly in a bid to secure a “soft landing” and avoid public disgrace or prosecution.
The petitions that triggered this investigation were filed by the Civil Society Engagement Platform (CSEP), a coalition of rights groups. In their submission to the NJC and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CSEP accused the judges of deliberately falsifying their birth dates to gain judicial appointments and extend their years of service—an act deemed as both unethical and illegal.
“This is an unprecedented scandal in the Nigerian judiciary, involving 18 sitting judges of the Imo State Judiciary. It’s a disgrace of monumental proportions,” the petition read.
Among the accused are:
- • Hon. Justice I. O. Agugua (alleged birth dates:
May 10, 1959, and May 10, 1960) - • Hon. Justice C. A. Ononeze-Madu (July 7 1963, and July 7, 1965)
- • Hon. Justice L. C. Azuama (November 11 1957, and November 11, 1960)
- • Hon. Justice B. C. Iheka (December 24, 1958, and December 24, 1962)
- • Hon. Justice M. E. Nwagbaoso (August 20, 1952, and August 20, 1962)
- • Hon. Justice Kechinyere Leweanya, whose records show four conflicting dates: April 26,1968; 1970; 1972; and 1974
Other judges with allegedly falsified records include Justices P. U. Nnodum, Vincent I. Onyeka, Vivian O. B. Ekezie, Alma Ngozi Eluwa, Okereke Chinyere Ngozi, among others.
CSEP also cited violations of the judicial code of conduct, particularly by Justice Agugua, and called for immediate disciplinary action to restore public trust in the judiciary.
Meanwhile, the NJC has reportedly cleared Hon.
Justice Maurice Ikpambese, Chief Judge of Benue State, of all allegations of misconduct brought against him by the state government and House of Assembly.
Our sources indicate that the NJC found no merit in the claims, which ranged from alleged misappropriation of judicial funds to political favoritism. Sources said the Council reportedly viewed the petitions as a form of executive intimidation, warning that it would not tolerate such “reckless interference” in judicial independence.
This comes after Governor Hyacinth Alia-himself a Catholic priest-was accused of orchestrating a campaign to remove the CJ for refusing to appoint preferred judges to election petition tribunals. Sources outside the judiciary called the governor’s conduct “unfortunate” and contrary to the dignity expected of a clergy-led government.
The Imo State judiciary has been embroiled in leadership and credibility crises for months. The recent sacking of former Chief Judge, Justice Chikeka, followed a similar age falsification scandal exposed by CSEP. Following her removal, Governor Hope Uzodinma bypassed the constitutional order of seniority and appointed the fourth-most senior judge as acting CJ, a move rejected by the NJC.
The NJC insisted the governor must comply with the constitutional procedure and appoint the most senior eligible judge, regardless of pending investigations-unless officially sanctioned by the Council.
