The Imo State House of Assembly has passed a resolution urging Governor Hope Uzodinma to dismiss the state’s Chief Judge, Theresa Chikeka, following allegations of age falsification. This resolution came after a detailed investigation by the assembly, prompted by a petition from the Civil Society Engagement Platform, a civil society organisation.
The investigation was initiated on July 3, when the assembly set up a four-member committee to probe the allegations stated in the petition signed by Ndubuisi Onyemaechi, the group’s director of investigation.
During the plenary session on Wednesday, the committee presented its findings, confirming that Chief Judge Chikeka had indeed falsified her age. According to the committee’s chairperson, Ikenna Ihezuo, the investigation revealed that Chikeka altered her birth date from October 27, 1956, to October 27, 1958.
Ihezuo described the act as gross misconduct, noting that the committee had invited all relevant parties, including the petitioners, the head of service, the secretary of the Imo State Judiciary Commission, and Chikeka herself. While the other parties attended, the chief judge did not.
The committee also reached out to the secretary to the council and the director of administration of the Nigerian Law School to verify the birth date Chikeka provided in her admission form, which supported the allegations of age falsification.
In light of these findings, the committee recommended that Governor Uzodinma remove Chief Judge Chikeka from her position, citing Section 292 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The assembly also resolved to forward the matter to the National Judicial Commission for further action.
This development underscores the assembly’s commitment to upholding integrity and accountability within the state’s judiciary.
