By Gideon Njoku
The National Judicial Council, NJC, has come down hard on the Chief Judge of Imo State, the Honourable Justice Theresa Chukwuemeka-Chikeka.
In its 107th meeting held in Abuja, and presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, the Honourable Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the NJC asked the Imo State Governor to retire her with effect from 2021.
Justice Chikeka was also ordered to return all salaries and allowances paid to her since October 27, 2021 to the coffers of the NJC.
The NJC found Chikeka guilty of falsifying her age. She should have retired since 2021, the NJC said.
The “battle” to get Chikeka retired from office over age falsification had been on for almost one year. It began when a petition was written against her to the Imo House of Assembly. The House found her guilty and recommended her retirement but the battle was not over as she resorted to legal battles to clear her name and save her job.
But the NJC found her guilty of age falsification and ordered that she refunds all salaries and allowances paid to her from 27th October, 2021, till date.
NJC: “The recommendation was pursuant to the findings of the Council that His Lordship has two different dates of birth: 27 October 1956 and 27 October 1958.
However, 27 October 1956 appeared consistent date of birth, but in 2006, the Chief Judge swore to an affidavit changing the date of birth to 27 October, 1958.”
The NJC also retired the Grand Kadi of Yobe State, Kadi Babagana Mahdi of age falsification. He was found guilty of having three different birth dates – 10 December, 28 January and July, all in 1959. But his actual birth date was 1952.
For that, “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 for the past 12 years.”
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