Imo State Chief Judge In Age Falsification Scandal: Committee Writes NJC, Recommends Sack

On Wednesday, July 3, 2024, the Imo State House Of Assembly received a petition from the Civil Society Engagement Platform (CSEP).

The petition, which was signed by the Organization’s Director of Investigation, Comrade Ndubuisi Onyemaechi, contained allegations against the Chief Judge Of Imo State, Mrs Theresa Chukwuemeka-Chikeka.

Subsequently, the House, pursuant to Section 292 of the Constitution, set up a Four (4) Man Committee to look into the petition and Report to the House.

In the course of their investigations, the Committee invited the Petitioners, The Head Of Service, Imo State, The Secretary Imo State Judiciary Commission and the Honourable Chief Judge of the State, Mrs Theresa Chukwuemeka-Chikeka.

The Committee also wrote to the Secretary to the Council and Director of Administration, Nigerian Law School, to find out the Date of Birth the Chief Judge filed on her form when she was admitted into the Law School.

All those invited appeared before the Panel, including the Petitioners, who adopted and owned the petition as their write-up.

The Secretary to the Council and Director of Administration at the Nigerian Law School and the Head Of Service, Imo State sent their written responses to the inquiry from the Committee.

However, the Chief Judge refused to honour the Committee’s invitation.

Submissions sent in by all the other persons and Institutions showed that, indeed, the Chief Judge, Honourable Justice Theresa Chukwuemeka-Chikeka adjusted her Date of Birth from October 27, 1956 to October 27, 1958.

Based on this, the Committee concluded that this amounted to misconduct.

Consequently, the Committee recommended that the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodimma should remove the Chief Judge of Imo State, Honourable Justice Theresa Ebere Chukwuemeka-Chikeka from office for misconduct, in keeping with Section 292(ii) of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended).

In addition, the Committee Ruled that the House Resolution on the issue be forwarded to the National Judicial Commission (NJC), for further action.

Following the recommendation of the Committee of the Committee, and in keeping with the Provisions of Section 292 (a)(ii) of the 1999 Constitution, which lists misconduct as one of the grounds on which a Governor, supported by Two-Third Majority of the House Of Assembly, can remove a Chief Judge of a State, the Imo State House Of Assembly has Authorized the Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma to remove Honourable Justice Theresa Chukwuemeka-Chikeka from office as the Chief Judge of Imo State.

Falsification of Age is an Act of Misconduct, for which several Judges and Justices, among other office holders have been removed from in Imo State and other parts of the country.

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Hon Barrister Ikenna Ihezuo

Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary and Information, Imo State House of Assembly.