The National Judicial Council (NJC) has directed Imo Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo, to reverse the appointment of Theophilus Nzeukwu as acting chief judge of the state.

In 2024, the NJC had recommended Chukwuemeka Chikeka, former chief judge of the state, for compulsory retirement with effect from October 27, 2021, over age falsification.

On April 3, Uzodimma swore in Nzeukwu as the state’s acting chief judge, but the NJC on April 4 said it did not approve the appointment.

In a statement issued after its 108th meeting held in Abuja between April 29 and 30, the council directed Uzodimma to appoint the most senior judge in the high court’s hierarchy as the acting chief judge in conformity with section 271 (4) of the 1999 Constitution.

The NJC resolved to issue Nzeukwu a query to show cause within seven days why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for accepting the appointment.

The NJC also directed V.U. Okorie, the president of the Imo state customary court of appeal, to explain within seven days why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for recommending Nzeukwu’s appointment while serving as interim chairman of the Imo state Judicial Service Commission.

The council also suspended three serving judicial officers, including a justice of the court of appeal, Jane E. Inyang, for one year each without pay for various acts of judicial misconduct.

Inyang Ekwo, the judge of the federal high court, Abuja, has also been suspended for one year without pay, placed on a watch list for five years, and barred from elevation for five years.

The council also suspended Aminu Baffa Aliyu of the federal high court, Zamfara Division, for a period of one year without pay for judicial misconduct.

He is to be placed on a watchlist for three years and is barred from elevation.

The Nigerian Navy troops have rescued 99 passengers from drowning following a boat accident on the Bukuma River in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, Commodore Cajethan Aniaku, announced the development in a statement issued by the Base spokesperson, Lt.-Cdr. Bridget Bebia, on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.

According to him, the wooden boat, named ‘Blood of Jesus,’ was carrying both passengers and goods from Port Harcourt to Akuku-Toru LGA when it collided with a barge.

“The barge, Damen Buba, had a head-on collision with the ‘market boat’ en route to the Akuku-Toru area, resulting in significant structural damage to the boat.

“The incident occurred on April 29 at about 10:55 am in the Tuma area, approximately 300 metres from Naval Security Station 035, Degema LGA, Rivers,” he stated.

Aniaku reported that upon receiving a distress call regarding the passengers in danger of drowning, the Navy promptly deployed four gunboats to carry out a search-and-rescue operation.

“Troops swiftly arrived at the scene of the collision and successfully rescued all 99 passengers from the river, despite the challenging conditions faced during the operation. Fortunately, no fatalities or injuries were recorded during the rescue,” he added.

The naval commander commended the personnel involved for their bravery and professionalism in rescuing all the passengers aboard the ill-fated boat.

He attributed the successful rescue to the prompt intervention and skilled handling of the situation by the naval forces.

Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has accused media personality and Ovation publisher, Dele Momodu, of being financially motivated in his continued support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, Olayinka alleged that Momodu’s loyalty to Atiku is driven purely by financial gain, warning that the media figure would abandon the former presidential candidate once the flow of money ceases.

“Only someone like Dele Momodu, who does not have knowledge of anything apart from his stomach, would claim that it was Wike who drove Peter Obi out of the PDP,” Olayinka said, dismissing recent comments made by Momodu.

He further accused Atiku of undermining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the years, recalling how, in his words, Atiku “frustrated the party’s efforts to win Lagos State in 2003.”

Olayinka also challenged Momodu’s claim that Atiku had proposed zoning the PDP presidential ticket to the Southeast in the 2023 elections, noting that Atiku had already purchased the party’s Expression of Interest form before the zoning committee had made any formal decision.

“In his display of arrogance or mischief, Dele Momodu claimed that Atiku wanted PDP to field a candidate from the eastern part of the country. But he chose not to mention that the same Atiku had already declared his interest in running for president,” he stated.

The FCT Minister’s spokesperson went further, pointing out a trend of close political allies distancing themselves from Atiku after elections. He cited the exits of former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel, former Delta State Governor and Atiku’s 2023 running mate Ifeanyi Okowa, and others as evidence of what he described as Atiku’s self-serving political approach.

“Why did everyone who worked closely with Atiku during the 2019 and 2023 elections leave him after the polls? The answer lies in Atiku’s perceived selfishness,” Olayinka stated.

He also took aim at Momodu personally, questioning his loyalty and ethnic pride. “Wike is a proud Ikwerre man, unlike Dele Momodu who isn’t proud of his Edo origin,” Olayinka claimed.