The Imo State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has firmly denied authoring any petition against 18 judges of the state judiciary currently under investigation by the National Judicial Council (NJC) over alleged age falsification. Instead, the Commission insists it merely fulfilled its constitutional duty by forwarding the outcome of a routine verification exercise to the NJC.
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The Commission made this clarification in a formal resolution dated May 5, 2025, sighted by TheNigeriaLawyer following an emergency meeting convened in response to a letter of invitation from the NJC dated April 30, 2025. The NJC’s letter had summoned the Secretary of the Imo JSC to appear before its investigation panel, reportedly in connection with a petition concerning the affected judges.
In its response, the Commission emphasized that no petition was ever written by it or on its behalf, and that the Secretary of the JSC merely conveyed its official resolutions to the NJC, acting strictly on instruction.
The Imo JSC explained that it embarked on the verification of the dates of birth of judicial officers in the state following an earlier scandal involving alleged age falsification by the former Chief Judge of Imo State, Hon. Justice Theresa Chukwuemeka-Chikeka (retired). The Commission admitted that it had not conducted sufficient due diligence before forwarding her name to the NJC for appointment as Chief Judge, a lapse that led to her eventual retirement.
According to the JSC, the motion to conduct a comprehensive verification of all judicial officers was moved by Hon. Lady Mercy M. Anyanwu and seconded by respected legal luminary, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, OON, SAN, during a meeting held on July 19, 2024. The motion was unanimously adopted.
The Commission subsequently directed its Secretary to write to the Secretary of the Nigerian Law School, Bwari, Abuja, to verify the dates of birth of all judicial officers serving in Imo State. The findings were later reviewed at a meeting held on April 7, 2025, where the Commission concluded it lacked disciplinary powers over judges and resolved to transmit the findings, supporting documents, and security reports to the NJC for necessary action.
One of the affected judges, Hon. Justice Lambert Azuama, had earlier been disqualified by the Commission in 2023 due to a Department of State Services (DSS) report listing his date of birth as 1957. However, the DSS has since clarified that the date was a typographical error and issued a corrected report dated April 11, 2025. The JSC stated that it accepted this clarification and subsequently exonerated Justice Azuama.
The Commission stressed that the Secretary of the JSC is not a member of the body as per the 1981 Judicial Service Commission Regulations and does not make decisions. Her role is purely administrative, confined to documenting and conveying the Commission’s decisions.
“It is surprising that the Secretary was invited to appear before the NJC panel when she merely carried out instructions given by the Commission,” the resolution read.
Reaffirming its position, the JSC referenced a similar case involving the former Chief Judge of the state, Justice Chikeka, in which its findings and recommendations were sent to the NJC without any invitation being extended to any member or official of the Commission.
The Commission further clarified that while it did receive a petition from a civil society group, the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP), dated February 20, 2025, it was not the originator of any formal petition before the NJC. However, it acknowledged that the said petition by CSEP is currently pending before the NJC.
In conclusion, the Imo JSC expressed full confidence in the NJC’s capacity to thoroughly investigate the matter and determine the credibility of the documents and resolutions forwarded. It emphasized that the Secretary, not being a decision-making member, has no role to play in such proceedings.
“A copy of this resolution is to be presented to the NJC panel as the official position of the Imo State Judicial Service Commission,” the statement concluded.
The resolution was jointly signed by Hon. Eze Duruiheoma, SAN and Hon. Lady M.M. Anyanwu, both serving Commissioners of the Imo State Judicial Service Commission.
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