Crisis in Imo State Judiciary!
NJC must act now to Restore Confidence – CSO Coalition
A coalition of Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria; the Civil Society Engagement Platform (CSEP) has demanded immediate action from the Nigerian Judicial Service Commission (NJC) against the Imo State Chief Judge, Theresa Chikeka who has been indicted by the Imo State house of Assembly for age falsification.
The Civil Society group had petitioned the NJC as well as the Imo State House of Assembly on the criminal act of age falsification by Justice Chikeka.
After conducting due investigation and obtaining official documents from the Nigeria Law School, the State House of Assembly special investigation Committee found out that the Imo State Chief Judge, Theresa Chikeka falsified her age by changing her date of birth from October 1956 to October 1958. The house in a plenary session adopted the Recommendations of the Committee and recommended the immediate removal of the State Chief Judge.
In the petition to the National Judicial Council, the Coalition of Civil Society groups attached several documents showing that the Imo State Chief Judge falsified her age to remain in service long after she ought to have retired.
Following delays in taking action on the matter, the Civil Society coalition has threatened to mobilize Nigerians for a mass action against the National Judicial Council NJC for trying to sweep such a grievous criminal act under the carpet.
It will be recalled that some Judges in the Imo State judiciary have been removed some years back for same offense of age falsification, so the CSO is shocked by the seeming reluctance by the NJC to deal decisively with this petition.
In recent times, the corruption in Nigeria Judiciary has become a cause of great concern to the Citizens who now believe that justice is purchased and not done in the Courts.
The coming on board of a new Chief Justice of Nigeria; Justice Kekere-Ekun may as well change the narrative if she decides to tow the path of honor by enforcing anti-corruption policies in the Judiciary.
