National Judicial Council (NJC) rose from its 111th meeting on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, announcing the immediate suspension of two judges for one year without pay.
This was as the Council also rejected appeals filed by eight judges of the Imo State judiciary who were compulsorily retired over age falsification.
It however, reinstated a judge of the Imo State Customary Court of Appeal after reviewing fresh evidence presented by him.
A statement on Thursday night by Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, Deputy Director, Information of the NJC, stated that the Council chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun also recommended the appointment of 12 new Justices of the Court of Appeal.
On the appeal filled by the eight judges, that were suspended, the Council noted that the affected judges “failed to present fresh evidence capable of justifying a reversal of the sanctions imposed on them.”
The judges are B.C. Iheka, K.A. Leaweanya, Okereke Chinyere Ngozi, Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi, Ofoha Uchenna, Everyman Eleanya, Rosemond Ibe and T.N. Nzeukwu.
The NJC had at its 109th meeting which took place in June 2025, recommended the compulsory retirement of 29 judicial officers from the Imo State judiciary out of which nine of them were found to have altered their dates of birth in official records to extend their years in service unlawfully.
Specifically, Mr Nzeukwu was found to have made himself available to be sworn in as acting Chief Judge despite being fourth in the hierarchy of judges, contrary to Section 271(4) of the Constitution.
The Council however, reinstated T.I. Nze of the Imo State Customary Court of Appeal after he presented fresh evidence to the review committee which found the evidence authentic.
The Council also released it hammer on two judges by suspending them. They include Justice Ibrahim D. Shekarau of the Nasarawa State and Edward A.E. Okpe of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
Justice Ibrahim D. Shekarau of the High Court of Nasarawa State was suspended for one year without pay over judicial misconduct, following a petition filed by Oluwafunke Obale Ozozoma concerning proceedings in suit number NSD/MG56M/2025.
The petitioner alleged that Shekarau granted an ex parte order directing the transfer of N7 million from her bank account to a third party and also alleged that the application was filed, heard and granted on the same day without any substantive suit before the court.
The statement further said that the petitioner argued that the order “wrongly implied her involvement in fraud” despite not being charged or joined in the case.
Accordingly, the NJC said its committee found that the judge “acted in bad faith”, failed to observe due process and showed lack of professional competence.
The Council equally suspended Justice Edward A.E. Okpe of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory also for one year without pay over alleged breach of fair hearing in a matrimonial case.
Okpe’s suspension followed a petition filed by Sunday Emmanuel Oso in suit number FCT/HC/PET/529/2024, between Lateefat Adeola Oso and Sunday Emmanuel Oso in which Mr Oso alleged that although he received hearing notices fixing the matter for 19 September 2024, the court heard and granted an ex parte application on 17 September 2024 without notifying him.
Oso also stated that when the matter later came up, the judge declined to hear his motion on notice and instead entertained committal proceedings against him.
