NJC Orders Inclusion of Ijeoma Agugua for Chief Judge Role

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has directed the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to include Justice Ijeoma Agugua, the acting Chief Judge, on the shortlist for the substantive Chief Judge position. This directive was issued during the NJC's 112th meeting on November 3, presided over by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

The NJC emphasized that the most senior judge of the state High Court should be considered for the role. The controversy surrounding the Chief Judge position arose after the compulsory retirement of former Chief Judge T.

E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka in November 2024 due to age falsification. Despite Agugua being the most senior judge, the state authorities initially appointed a lower-ranking judge, Theophilus Nzeukwu, as acting chief judge, a decision that paralyzed the High Court for months.

The NJC rejected Nzeukwu's appointment in April 2025, leading to his compulsory retirement in June 2025. Subsequently, the Imo State government reinstated Agugua as acting Chief Justice.