Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has appointed Hon. Justice Matthew Emeka Njoku as the Acting President of the Customary Court of Appeal of Imo State. The appointment is with immediate effect.
Governor Uzodimma, in a letter he personally signed on Thursday, April 30, 2020, communicated the appointment to Justice Njoku.
Governor Uzodimma wrote: “In compliance with the decision of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and in exercise of my powers as provided for in Section 281 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), I hereby appoint you as Acting President of the Customary Court of Appeal of Imo State pending the appointment of a substantive President of the Customary Court of Appeal of Imo State.
“The appointment is with immediate effect and all conditions appertaining to this appointment should apply.”
Justice Njoku takes over from Hon. Justice Francis Chukwuma Abosi, who was recently suspended and recommended for compulsory retirement by the NJC after finding him guilty of official misconduct.
The NJC had accused Abosi of falsifying his age.
“Hon. Justice Francis Chukwuma Abosi was recommended for compulsory retirement following the falsification of his date of birth from 1950 to 1958. Findings showed that he was supposed to have retired in November 2015, when he clocked the mandatory retirement age of 65 years,” according to Soji Oye, spokesperson of the NJC.
Justice Njoku has been working at the Customary Court of Appeal, Owerri, since 1999. He was, at one time, a Chief Magistrate and Chief Registrar in the Imo State Judiciary. He was born in January 5, 1957.
