The National Judicial Council (NJC) has reportedly sanctioned five judicial officers for various acts of misconduct.

The Council suspended Hon. Justice G. C. Aguma of High Court of Rivers State, from performing judicial functions for a period of one year without pay and also placed him on “watch-list” for two years thereafter.

The Hope gathered that one of the judges also recommended for sanction was said to have three dates of birth with 12 years reduction in his original age.

In a statement signed by Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, NJC Deputy Director (Information), on Friday, November 15, 2024, the Council, under the Chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, took the decisions at its 107th Meeting of November 13 and 14, 2024.

Hon. Justice A. O. Nwabunike of Anambra State High Court, has also been suspended from performing judicial functions for one year without pay. Justice Nwabunike in addition was placed on “watch-list” for two years thereafter.

The Council also recommended two Heads of Court for compulsory retirement over falsification of age.

The Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka and the Grand Kadi of Yobe State, Kadi Babagana Mahdi, were recommended for compulsory retirement on account of falsification of their ages.

The Council equally considered the report of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee, which considered a total number of 30 petitions, empanelled six Committees for further investigation. While 22 were dismissed for lacking in merit, two were subjudice.

The Council also empanelled a Committee to investigate all complaints and petitions against Hon. Justice O. A. Ojo, Chief Judge, Osun State.

The Council’s action against Justice Aguma was on garnishee proceedings.

Ogedengbe stated that: “The Council’s findings revealed that Hon. Justice G. C. Aguma, committed acts of misconduct, by aiding a litigant who obtained a judgment at the FCT High Court, Abuja, and filed a garnishee against judgement debtors in Bori Division of the High Court, Rivers State.

“The Council finds that Justice Aguma failed to raise any query as to why the garnishee proceedings were brought to his Court in Bori for a money judgement that could effectively be enforced in Abuja.

“That the judgment was delivered on 15 July 2020, at the High Court of the FCT, while the certificate of judgement was registered at Bori Division of the High Court of Rivers State on 16 July 2020.

“The Council further finds that the speed with which the Hon. Justice Aguma took and granted the order absolute against the judgement debtors showed that he had an interest, especially as he failed to take into consideration the stay of execution of the judgement granted in favour of the judgement debtors by the Bwari High Court, which had been brought to his attention.

“On the part of Hon. Justice A. O. Nwabunike of Anambra State, the Council found him to have breached the provision of Rule 3.1 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2016.

“He also failed to adhere to the principle of stare decisis from his different interpretation of the word “aspirant” and abused his judicial powers by granting ex parte orders without a Motion on Notice filed along with the Originating Summons.