- Suspends Three Judges For Misconduct
By Kolawole Ojebisi
The National Judicial Council has directed the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, to reverse the appointment of Justice Theophilus Nzeukwu as Acting Chief Judge of the state.
The NJC stated that the governor must appoint the most senior judicial officer in the Imo State High Court’s hierarchy as the acting Chief Judge, in line with Section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday night by the NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Ogedengbe.
The statement stressed that the constitutional provision does not grant the governor any discretion in such appointments.
Recall that in 2024, the NJC had recommended Chukwuemeka Chikeka, former chief judge of the state, for compulsory retirement with effect from October 27, 2021, over age falsification.
On April 3, Uzodimma swore in Nzeukwu as the state’s acting chief judge, but the NJC on April 4 said it did not approve the appointment.
The NJC also resolved to issue Nzeukwu a query to show cause within seven days why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for accepting the appointment.
In a similar vein, the NJC directed V.U. Okorie, the president of the Imo state customary court of appeal, to explain within seven days why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for recommending Nzeukwu’s appointment while serving as interim chairman of the Imo state Judicial Service Commission.
The judicial council also slammed one-year suspension without pay on three serving judicial officers, including a Justice of the Court of Appeal, for various acts of judicial misconduct.
The disciplinary actions were among several key resolutions reached at the Council’s 108th meeting held on April 29 and 30, 2025, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
The Council said Justice Jane E. Inyang of the Court of Appeal, Uyo Division, was found guilty of breaching Rule 3 (5) of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.
The statement said, “Justice Jane E. Inyang was found to have abused his office by issuing inappropriate Ex parte Orders for the sale ofUdeme Esset’s petrol station and other businesses at the interlocutory stage of the case.
“The act of judicial misconduct occurred while His Lordship presided over Suit No. FHC/UY/CS/46/2023, at the Federal High Court, Uyo Judicial Division, before his elevation to Court of Appeal.”
Similarly, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, was also suspended for one year without pay. In addition, he was placed on the Council’s Watch List and barred from elevation for five years.
“The complaints against Hon. Justice Ekwo arose from Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/184/2021, wherein His Lordship delivered a ruling in a pending application without hearing the parties,” the statement said.
“His Lordship ignored an application to set aside the proceedings of the Court conducted in the absence of the parties. Subsequently, His Lordship proceeded to deliver a ruling dismissing the charge against the Defendants. Consequently, His Lordship was found to have violated Rule 3.1 and 3.3 of the 2016 Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” it added.
Justice Aminu Baffa Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Zamfara Division, was also suspended for one year without pay for judicial misconduct.
