NJC suspends Rivers, Anambra judges, asks Imo Gov to retire other effective 2021
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended Justice G. C Aguma of the High Court of Rivers State and Justice A.O Nwabunike of the Anambra State High Court from performing judicial functions, for alleged judicial misconduct.
They were both suspended for the period of one year without pay and placed on watch list for two years thereafter.
The decision was taken at the 107th Meeting of the NJC chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun on 13 and 14 November 2024, according to a statement by the council on Friday.
A total of 5 serving Judicial Officers were sanctioned for various acts of misconduct.
The Council also recommended two Heads of Court for compulsory retirement over falsification of age.
The duo of the Chief Judge of Imo State, Hon. Justice T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka and the Grand Kadi of Yobe State, Hon. Kadi Babagana Mahdi, were recommended for compulsory retirement for falsification of their ages.
“The Council’s findings revealed that Hon. Justice G. C. Aguma, committed acts of misconduct by aiding a litigant who obtained a judgment at the FCT high court, Abuja, and filed a garnishee against judgment debtors in Bori Division of the high court, Rivers state,” the statement reads.
“The council finds that justice Aguma failed to raise any query as to why the garnishee proceedings were brought to his court in Bori for a money judgment that could effectively be enforced in Abuja.
“That the judgment was delivered on 15 July 2020, at the high court of the FCT, while the certificate of judgment was registered at Bori division of the high court of Rivers state on 16 July 2020.
“The council further finds that the speed with which the Hon. justice Aguma took and granted the order absolute against the judgment debtors showed that he had an interest, especially as he failed to take into consideration the stay of execution of the judgment granted in favour of the judgement debtors by the Bwari High Court, which had been brought to his attention.
“On the part of Hon. Justice A. O. Nwabunike of Anambra state, the Council found him to have breached the provision of Rule 3.1 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2016.
“He also failed to adhere to the principle of stare decisis from his different interpretation of the word “aspirant” and abused his judicial powers by granting ex parte orders without a Motion on Notice filed along with the originating summons.”
Chukwuemeka Chikeka was recommended to the Governor of Imo State for compulsory retirement with effect from October 27 2021, “while all salaries and allowance received in excess by His Lordship from 27 October 2021 till date should be refunded to the Council,” the statement added.
The Council equally considered the Report of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee, which considered a total number of 30 petitions, empanelled 6 Committees for further investigation. While 22 were dismissed for lacking in merit, two were sub judice.
The Council also empanelled a Committee to investigate all complaints and petitions against Hon. Justice O. A. Ojo, Chief Judge, Osun State.
