The Imo House of Assembly has recommended the dismissal of Chief Judge Justice Theresa Chukwuemeka-Chikeka for misconduct and alleged age falsification.
During a plenary session on Thursday, July 18, a two-thirds majority of lawmakers voted in favor of an ad-hoc committee’s recommendation to remove the Chief Judge.
This decision followed a petition by the Civil Society Engagement Platform (CSEP) accusing her of falsifying her age.
The House urged Governor Hope Uzodimma to remove Justice Chukwuemeka-Chikeka under Section 292 of the Constitution.
The recommendation will also be forwarded to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for further action.
Before Chukwuemeka-Chikeka’s recommended sack, an ad-hoc committee investigated the allegations after the petition was filed.
The Chief Judge refused to appear before the committee, citing the Constitution and stating she would only appear before an NJC panel.
The investigation revealed that Justice Chukwuemeka-Chikeka changed her birth date from October 27, 1956, to October 27, 1958, in a statutory declaration sworn in 2006.
Based on these findings, the committee recommended her removal and the House adopted it unanimously.
KanyiDaily recalls that Governor Hope Uzodinma recently appointed himself as the Commissioner for Land, Survey, and Physical Planning in Imo state.