A coalition of civil society groups under the banner of The Dependable Patriots has strongly condemned the swearing-in of Hon. Justice Ijeoma Agugua as Acting Chief Judge of Imo State by Governor Hope Uzodimma, describing the action as a “dangerous move” capable of further eroding public trust in the judiciary.
Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, the Secretary of the group, Malam Abacha, expressed serious concerns over Justice Agugua’s appointment, revealing that there is a pending petition before the National Judicial Council (NJC) against her for alleged falsification of her date of birth.
The coalition recalled that the immediate past Chief Judge of the state, Justice Chukwuemeka-Chikeka, was compulsorily retired by the NJC on similar grounds of age falsification.
“The NJC must stop this pattern of selective justice,” Malam Abacha declared. “You cannot sack a substantive Chief Judge for falsifying age and then turn around to impose an Acting Chief Judge who has allegedly committed the same offence.”
The Dependable Patriots urged the NJC, under the leadership of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Kekere-Ekun, to act swiftly and decisively to prevent what they described as a clear case of double standards that could undermine the integrity of the judiciary.
Copies of the petition filed against Justice Agugua were distributed to members of the press during the briefing and are hereby attached.
