NJC Must Act Now to Restore Confidence in Judiciary – Coalition

A civil society group, the Civil Society Engagement Platform (CSEP), has urged the Nigerian Judicial Council (NJC) to take swift action against Imo State Chief Judge, Theresa Chukwuemeka Chikeka, following her indictment by the Imo State House of Assembly for age falsification.

Recall that on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, the Imo State House of Assembly and the National Judicial Council (NJC) were petitioned by CSEP in viral media publications.

The petition was signed by the organisation’s Director of Investigation, Ndubuisi Onyemaechi, and contained allegations against Chikeka.

Thereafter, in pursuant to section 292 of the constitution, a four-man ad-hoc committee of the Imo State House of Assembly investigated the petition and said it found that Chikeka falsified her age from October 27, 1956 to October 27, 1958.

The Chairman of the Committee and House Committee Chairman on Information and Judiciary, Ikenna Ihezuo, while presenting the investigation report on the committee of the whole House on July 17, described the act as gross misconduct.

The House of Assembly, in a resolution, recommended that governor Hope Uzodinma remove Chikeka from office in accordance with Section 292 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which deals with the removal of judicial officers for misconduct.

In a statement released to LEADERSHIP yesterday in Abuja, the group reiterated its call for decisive action from the NJC, emphasizing that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kekere-Ekun, must uphold anti-corruption measures in the judiciary.

The group stressed that inaction on the part of the NJC could undermine public confidence in the judiciary.

The group further warned that if the matter is not addressed, it would mobilize Nigerians for mass protests to demand accountability and justice.