The National Judicial Council (NJC) has rejected the exclusion of acting Chief Judge of Imo State, Ijeoma Agugua, from the checklist of nominees submitted by the state’s judicial service fee for appointment because the state’s substantive chief judge.
The council mentioned in a press release on Wednesday that it ordered the Imo State Judicial Service Commission, the physique with statutory authority to provoke the method of appointing judicial officers within the state, to incorporate Ms Agugua on its shortlist.
NJC’s Deputy Director (Information) Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe mentioned in a press release on Wednesday that the council gave the directive at its 112th assembly held on 3 November.
During the assembly, the council, chaired by Chief Justice of Nigeria Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, really useful 28 candidates for various judicial appointments and reached selections on a number of disciplinary matters.
“Council also directed the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to include the name of the most senior Judge of the State High Court, the Acting Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Ijeoma Agugua, in the list of candidates for appointment as substantive Chief Judge of the State,” the assertion said.
The assertion didn’t checklist the names or the quantity of nominees on the judicial service fee’s preliminary shortlist.
Persistent disaster
The try to fill the Imo chief judge place has been a serious bone of competition between the NJC and Imo State authorities since former Chief Judge T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka was compulsorily retired over age falsification two years in the past in November 2024.
The NJC’s newest choice on the matter signalled the state authorities’s persistent disapproval of Ms Agugua for the place.
Despite Ms Agugua being essentially the most senior High Court judge, the state authorities handed over her to choose a decrease rating judge to behave because the chief judge.
The controversial choice, which paralysed the state High Court for months, was criticised by the Nigerian Bar Association and rejected by the NJC for disregarding seniority precept.
In April 2025, the NJC roundly rejected the appointment of Theophilus Nzeukwu, who was the quantity 4 on the hierarchy of judges of the state, as acting chief judge.
The NJC mentioned Mr Nzeukwu’s appointment violated Section 271(4) of the Nigerian structure which mandates the governor to “appoint the most senior judge of the High Court” to briefly carry out the features of the chief judge at any time when the workplace turns into vacant.
It additionally ordered that Mr Nzeukwu must be issued a question for accepting appointment by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma because the acting chief judge in violation of the structure.
In June, about two months after rejecting Mr Nzeukwu’s appointment and issuing him a question, the NJC sent him on a compulsory retirement for accepting to be sworn in for the acting chief judge position.
The council additionally restated its stance, directing Governor Uzodimma to adjust to its directive to swear within the state’s most senior judge.
The governor had justified choosing Mr Nzeukwu, which he mentioned was based mostly on “credible reports available to him at the time.”
He mentioned in a press release that studies submitted to him indicated Mr Nzeukwu was the “most senior judicial officer not encumbered by unresolved issues.”
But the NJC confused that the constitutional provision on acting appointments of state chief judges didn’t go away room for discretion.
Mr Uzodimma subsequently agreed to adjust to the directives of the NJC.
But whereas the state authorities bowed to NJC’s directive, it remained resolute to solely permit Ms Agugua to occupy the workplace in acting capability.
Why NJC took newest choice on Imo chief judge place
The NJC mentioned it directed the Imo State Judicial Commission to incorporate Ms Agugua’s identify within the checklist of nominees for appointment because the substantive chief judge within the state, following the consideration of a petition dated 11 June by Bob Kay Njemanze.
It mentioned Mr Njemanze’s petition challenged the exclusion of Ms Agugua from the shortlist submitted by the judicial service fee.
The NJC’s assertion didn’t give the names or quantity of nominees despatched by the judicial service fee.
The council, the physique with preeminent roles within the appointment of judges throughout Nigeria’s superior courts of file, asserted its energy to concern such a directive to the judicial service fee to incorporate Ms Agugua’s identify within the checklist of nominees for the substantive chief judge.
“In considering the petition, Council noted that although the State Judicial Service Commission has the constitutional responsibility to advise the NJC on suitable candidates for appointment as Chief Judge, the Council retains the authority to determine the suitability of persons presented to it. It consequently directed its Secretariat to formally request the Imo State JSC to include the name of Hon. Justice I. O. Agugua in the shortlist,” the NJC’s assertion said.
Imo judiciary on the centre of consideration
The Imo State judiciary has been on the centre of consideration for the incorrect causes for two years.
In November 2024, its then chief judge, Mr Chikeka, was despatched on a obligatory retirement over age falsification, setting off the management disaster that has dogged the state judiciary since then.
READ ALSO: NJC recommends 28 candidates for judicial appointments (FULL LIST)
In June final 12 months, the NJC really useful Mr Nzeukwu on a obligatory retirement for making himself out there to be sworn in because the acting chief judge “knowing fully well that he was number four in the hierarchy of Judges of the Imo State Judiciary and contrary to Section 271 (4)” of the Nigerian structure.”
At the identical assembly, the council recommended the compulsory retirement of a set of 9 judges of the Imo State High Court discovered to be culpable of age falsifications,
But the council absolved the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Imo State, V. U. Okorie, who chaired the fee that nominated Mr Nzeukwu because the acting chief judge.
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