NJC disowns Imo governor’s unilateral appointment of Acting Chief Judge
By Emma Ogbuehi
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has disowned Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma’s unilateral appointment of Theophilus Nzeukwu as the state’s acting Chief Judge.
Uzodimma had on Wednesday announced Nzeukwu’s appointment as the Acting Chief Judge of Imo State on Wednesday, five months after the former Chief Justice, Theresa Chikeka, was removed by the NJC following an indictment for age falsification. The governor wen ahead to swear in the Acting Chief Judge on Friday.
However, while disassociating itself from the appointment, the NJC said Nzeukwu ranks fourth in the hierarchy of judges in the state.
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In a press statement signed by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Ogedengbe, the NJC said it received Governor Uzodinma’s letter requesting approval of the appointment of his nominee for the judicial position but has yet to consider it.
The statement noted that Uzodinma picked Nzeukwu, who is the fourth on the hierarchy of the state’s High Court judges, to replace the former Chief Judge of the state, T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka, who was sent on compulsory retirement last November for age falsification.
It added that Uzodinma, in his letter to the NJC, gave reasons for passing over the three most senior judges in the state to pick Nzeukwu for the vacant role. The council did not share the governor’s reasons in its statement.
“The council has not given approval to the governor for the appointment of the Acting Chief Judge,” read the statement issued in response to media reports of Mr Nzeukwu’s appointment as the Acting Chief Judge of Imo State.
It added, “The council is not a party to the process of purported appointment of Hon. Justice Theophilus Nnamdi Nzeukwu as the Acting Chief Judge.”
According to the statement, the NJC has only scheduled deliberation on the governor’s request for its meeting slated for 29 and 30 April.
Section 271 of the Nigerian constitution provides that the appointment of a Chief Judge in a State High Court shall be made based on the recommendation of the NJC. Any appointment made by the governor without the recommendation of the NJC is only valid for three months and the governor cannot reappoint the same person after the period.
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