The Imo State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has confirmed that 19 judges are currently under investigation for alleged age falsification, amid mounting tensions within the state’s judicial system.
In a statement released on June 13, 2025, by the Commission’s Director of Information, Frank Okafor, the JSC alleged that a hidden network of powerful individuals—described as a “judicial cabal”—is fueling the crisis and manipulating appointments within the judiciary and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Owerri branch.
According to Okafor, the National Judicial Council (NJC) had recently approved the appointment of 10 new judges by Governor Hope Uzodimma. However, the JSC claims that some entrenched interests have infiltrated the system, pushing for candidates based on loyalty rather than merit.
The Commission also responded to public criticism by human rights activist and legal scholar, Prof. Anselm Odinkalu, who had condemned the JSC’s handling of judicial matters in the state. Okafor described Odinkalu’s comments—including claims that members of the Commission are “petty rogues”—as unfounded and politically motivated.
“We are disappointed that some respected individuals have chosen to comment on sensitive issues affecting the judiciary without verifying the facts. It is even more unfortunate that Prof. Odinkalu, a friend of the Commission, allowed himself to amplify misinformation,” the statement said.
On the ongoing age falsification scandal, Okafor confirmed that 19 judges were implicated after discrepancies were uncovered through records from the Nigerian Law School and the Council of Legal Education. He noted that both senior and junior judges were affected, adding that the revelations came as a shock.
“It was not initially clear who would be involved, but official records revealed 19 names across different levels of the bench,” he said.
Addressing concerns over the redeployment of the former Chief Registrar of the High Court, Okafor insisted the Commission is not engaging in a witch-hunt but is acting within its mandate to uphold integrity and restore public confidence in the judiciary.
“The Commission remains committed to transparency, fairness, and justice,” he concluded.
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