UPDATED: Yobe grand Kadi to refund 12 years salaries as NJC wields the big stick

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has taken decisive action against judicial officers implicated in age falsification, mandating the refund of salaries and compulsory retirement for the offenders.

During its 107th meeting, chaired by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the NJC directed Justice T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka and Kadi Babagana Mahdi to step down from their positions.

Chikeka was ordered to refund three years’ worth of salaries, while Mahdi was instructed to repay salaries and allowances accumulated over 12 years.

Chikeka, a judicial officer in Imo State, was found to have manipulated his birth date.

Initially, his date of birth was recorded as October 27, 1956, but in 2006, he swore an affidavit altering it to October 27, 1958.

This discrepancy led the NJC to recommend his compulsory retirement effective October 27, 2021. The NJC also mandated that Chikeka refund all salaries received since this date.

The case of Mahdi, the Grand Kadi of Yobe State, revealed even graver inconsistencies, with three conflicting dates of birth: December 10, January 28, and July 1959.

Further investigations uncovered his actual birth year as 1952, which meant he should have retired 12 years ago.

“The recommendation was made following the Council’s findings that Chikeka had two different dates of birth: 27 October 1956 and 27 October 1958. However, 27 October 1956 appeared to be the consistent date, but in 2006, the Chief Judge swore to an affidavit changing his date of birth to 27 October 1958,” the statement added.

“The Council, therefore, resolved to recommend Hon. Kadi Babagana Mahdi for compulsory retirement to the Governor of Yobe State, and that he should refund all salaries and allowances received over the past 12 years,” the NJC stated.

READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE