The National Judicial Council (NJC) has directed Imo state Governor Hope Uzodinma to swear in the most senior judge as the acting Chief Judge.
The decision was taken at the council 109th meeting held in Abuja.
The body also recommended the compulsory retirement of 10 judges of the Imo State Judiciary, after consideration of the reports of its Investigation Committee on allegations of age falsification against 18 Judges of the Imo state judiciary on the one hand and the queries issued to Justices V. U. Okorie and T. N. Nzeukwu.
The Council, however dismissed, for want of merit, similar allegations against three judges of the State High Court whose dates of birth were found to bear no discrepancy.
The nine judges were found to have altered their dates of birth in their official records in order to confer on themselves the undue advantage of staying longer in service.
The other Judicial Officer, Hon. Justice T. N. Nzeukwu was found wanting for making himself available to be sworn in as acting Chief Judge of Imo State High Court knowing that he was number four in the hierarchy of Judges in the State Judiciary, contrary to Section 271 (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
The nine Judges that were found to have falsified their records included five High Court Judges and four Judges of the Customary Court of Appeal, Imo state.
The list included Hon Justice M. E. Nwagboso (High Court), Hon Justice B. C. Iheka (High Court), Hon Justice K. A. Leaweanya (High Court), Hon Justice Okereke Chinyere Ngozi (High Court), Hon Justice Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi (High Court), Hon Justice Tennyson Nze (Customary Court of Appeal), Hon Justice Ofoha Uchenna (Customary Court of Appeal), Hon Justice Everyman Eleanya (Customary Court of Appeal), Hon Justice Rosemond Ibe (Customary Court of Appeal), while Justice T. N. Nzeukwu was sanctioned for making himself available to be sworn into office as acting Chief Judge of Imo State.
However, the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Imo State, Hon Justice V. U. Okorie who chaired the Commission that nominated Justice Nzeukwu as acting Chief Judge was however absolved, having dissented on record against the recommendation to appoint Hon. Justice T. N. Nzeukwu as acting Chief Judge.
Six High Court Judges of the State, whose dates of birth either had discrepancies but with acceptable explanations or with discrepancies arising from genuine correction of their dates of birth to their disadvantage, were also exonerated.
The Judges whose dates of birth were found to bear no discrepancy are:
Hon Justice I. O. Agugua (High Court)
Hon Justice C. A. Ononeze-Madu (High Court)
Hon Justice L. C. Azuama (High Court)
The two Judges given a clean bill of health owing to provision of acceptable explanation for discrepancies in their dates of birth are:
Hon Justice Vincent I. Onyeka (High Court)
Hon Justice Vivian O. B. Ekezie (High Court)
Council directed that Hon. Justice Onyeka and Hon. Justice Ekezie must maintain the date of birth supplied by the Council of Legal Education in their official records.