The Imo State House of Assembly has officially recommended the removal of Hon. Justice Theresa Chikeka, the Chief Judge of Imo State, due to allegations of age falsification. This decision follows a thorough investigation initiated by a petition from the Civil Society Engagement Platform (CSEP), which accused Justice Chikeka of altering her birth date from October 27, 1956, to October 27, 1958.
The assembly's resolution was reached during a plenary session on July 17, 2024, after a four-member investigative committee presented its findings. The committee, chaired by Hon. Ikenna Ihezuo, confirmed that Justice Chikeka's actions constituted serious misconduct. "Her actions amount to misconduct, and we cannot allow such behavior to go unchecked," stated Ihezuo during the presentation of the report.
Justice Chikeka has served as a high court judge since May 20, 2006, and was appointed Chief Judge by Governor Hope Uzodinma on June 28, 2022. Despite being invited to defend herself before the committee, she did not attend the hearings, further complicating her position and leading to the assembly's decisive recommendation.
Hon. Bernard Ozoemenam, a member of the ad-hoc committee, expressed confidence that the National Judicial Council (NJC) will take appropriate action in response to these serious allegations. "Falsification of age is a serious matter," he remarked, highlighting that several judges have faced removal for similar offenses in the past.
This development raises significant concerns regarding judicial integrity in Imo State and underscores the ongoing scrutiny faced by public officials in Nigeria. As this situation unfolds, calls for transparency and accountability within the judiciary are expected to intensify.