The Imo State House of Assembly has recommended the immediate removal of Chief Judge Justice Theresa Chikeka over allegations of age falsification. This decision came after an ad hoc committee investigated a petition from a civil society platform accusing the CJ of altering her date of birth from October 27, 1956, to October 27, 1958.
During the investigation, the committee invited the petitioners, the Head of Service, the Secretary of the Imo Judicial Service Commission, and the CJ. While others attended the hearing, the CJ did not appear. The Nigerian Law School and Imo HOS reportedly confirmed the alleged alteration of her date of birth.
Based on these findings, the Imo State House of Assembly adopted the committee’s recommendation, citing gross misconduct under Section 292 (2) of the 1999 Constitution. The recommendation authorizes Governor Hope Uzodimma to remove the CJ and directed that the matter be forwarded to the National Judicial Council for further action.