Twenty-five prominent Nigerian lawyers have petitioned Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, demanding urgent intervention in the Imo State judicial crisis triggered by a controversial law that strips the Acting Chief Judge of case assignment authority.
The petition, received at the CJN’s office on Friday, challenges the authenticity of High Court (Amendment) Law No. 16 of 2022, which transfers case assignment powers to the Chief Registrar when no substantive Chief Judge is in place.
Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) Jibrin Okutepa and Femi Falana, who signed the November 13 petition, have given the CJN and National Judicial Council (NJC) 14 days to act or face legal action.
Suspicious Timing Raises Red Flags
The coalition discovered the amendment only after Justice Ijeoma Agugua’s swearing-in as Acting Chief Judge on September 26, despite claims the law dates to 2022.
“No one, including past Chief Judges, members of the Nigerian Bar Association in Imo State, or the broader legal community, was aware of this provision until this recent juncture,” the petition stated.
The lawyers cited glaring inconsistencies. Between April 2 and 30, then-Acting Chief Judge T.N. Nzeukwu assigned cases without invoking the law. From May 1 to September 25, the Chief Registrar assigned no cases, contradicting the amendment’s supposed requirements.
Crisis Rooted in Leadership Dispute
The turmoil began after former Chief Judge T.E. Chikeka’s compulsory retirement in November 2024 over misconduct. Governor Hope Uzodinma’s appointment of T.N. Nzeukwu as Acting Chief Judge was rejected by the NJC in April, which insisted the most senior judge be appointed constitutionally.
The NJC reiterated its stance in June at its 109th meeting in Abuja, directing Governor Uzodinma to swear in Justice Agugua and recommending Nzeukwu’s compulsory retirement for accepting an unconstitutional appointment. V.U. Okorie, President of the Customary Court of Appeal who chaired the Judicial Service Commission that recommended Nzeukwu, was cleared after formally dissenting.
Justice Agugua’s appointment was announced in July but delayed until September 26.
Judicial Activities Grounded
No cases have been assigned in the Imo State High Court since April 30 when Nzeukwu left office, effectively paralyzing judicial operations.
The coalition demands the CJN investigate whether the amendment was properly enacted and gazetted in 2022, and has called for restoration of normal case assignment procedures.
Other SANs in the coalition include Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, Funmi Falana, and Kunle Edun. Additional members are Professor Chidi Odinkalu, Femi Aborisade, Malachi Ugwummadu, John Akpokpo-Martins, Bayo Akinlade, Chinedu Agu, Nelson Olanrewaju, Inibehe Effiong, and Martins Obono.