Imo Assembly calls for the removal of chief judge, Hon. Justice Theresa Chikeka over alleged age falsification.
The Imo State House of Assembly has recommended the immediate removal of the chief judge, Theresa Chikeka, from office.
This recommendation was made on Wednesday, July 17 following an allegation of age falsification brought against her by a Civil Society Organisation (CSO).
Hon. Justice Chikeka, who hails from Owerri North, Imo State, was sworn in as high court judge on May 20, 2006 and confirmed as chief judge of Imo State by Governor Hope Uzodinma on June 28, 2022.
However, an organisation named, Civil Society Engagement Platform, wrote a petition and levelled an age falsification allegation against Justice Theresa. The petition was signed by Ndubuisi Onyemaechi, the group’s director of investigation and addressed to the Imo Assembly.
On July 3rd, 2024, the assembly set up a four-member committee to investigate the petition. During the assembly plenary, on Wednesday, the four-member committee submitted its report which confirmed that the chief judge forged her age as claimed by the petitioners.
Chairman of the ad-hoc committee Hon. Ikenna Ihezue, while presenting the report declared that: “Her actions amount to misconduct, and we cannot allow such behavior to go unchecked,” having found out that the chief judge adjusted her date of birth from October 27, 1956 to October 27, 1958.
Despite being invited alongside the petitioners, the head of service, the secretary of Imo State Judiciary Commission, Ihezue said, Justice Chikeka did not appear before the committee, which further strengthened the case against her.
The Imo Assembly has accordingly forwarded its recommendations to the National Judicial Council for further action. “We are confident that the NJC will take appropriate action to address this serious matter,” said Hon. Bernard Ozoemenam, another member of the ad-hoc committee.
“Falsification of age is a serious matter, and several judges and justices have been removed from office for this very reason,” said Comrade Ndubuisi Onyemaechi, Director of Investigations for the Civil Society Engagement Platform.
This recommendation is coming just weeks after the Imo Assembly suspended four members over an alleged plot to impeach the Speaker, Chike Olemgbe.
