The National Judicial Council (NJC) has directed the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to include the Acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ijeoma Agugua, in the list of candidates being considered for appointment as substantive Chief Judge of the Imo State High Court.
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The directive followed the Council’s consideration of a petition challenging the exclusion of Justice Agugua, who is the most senior judge of the State High Court, from the shortlist submitted by the Imo State Judicial Service Commission.
The decision was reached at the NJC’s 112th meeting held on November 3, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, GCON.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, the Council disclosed that it considered a petition dated June 11, 2026, submitted by Bob Kay Njemanze.
The petitioner challenged the exclusion of Justice Agugua from the list of candidates forwarded to the NJC for consideration for appointment as substantive Chief Judge of Imo State.
Following its examination of the petition, the Council considered the respective constitutional responsibilities of the State Judicial Service Commission and the NJC in the appointment process.
The NJC observed that although the Imo State Judicial Service Commission has the constitutional responsibility to advise the Council on suitable candidates for appointment as Chief Judge, the NJC retains the authority to determine the suitability of persons presented to it.
The Council consequently directed its Secretariat to formally request the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to include the name of Justice I. O. Agugua in the shortlist.
According to the statement, “Council also directed the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to include the name of the most senior Judge of the State High Court, the Acting Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Ijeoma Agugua, in the list of candidates for appointment as substantive Chief Judge of the State.”
The NJC explained that the decision followed its consideration of Njemanze’s petition concerning the omission of Justice Agugua from the selection process.
The Council stated that although the State Judicial Service Commission is constitutionally empowered to advise it on suitable candidates, it retains the authority to assess the suitability of those presented for consideration.
The directive means that Justice Agugua must be included among the candidates whose suitability will be considered in the process of appointing a substantive Chief Judge for Imo State.
However, the NJC did not announce her appointment as substantive Chief Judge or direct that she be selected ahead of other candidates.
Rather, the Council’s decision concerns her inclusion in the shortlist, allowing her to participate in the appointment process.
The development follows the petition challenging the omission of the state’s most senior High Court judge from consideration for the substantive position.
The NJC’s intervention places responsibility on the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to comply with the directive and forward a shortlist that includes Justice Agugua for the Council’s consideration.
The eventual appointment of a substantive Chief Judge will remain subject to the applicable constitutional process.
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