An elder statesman, Prince Bob Njemanze has raised the alarm that a vicious cabal has held the Imo judiciary in a strangle-hold for the last 21 years, dominating major decision m N9,500 noaking processes, enthroning and deposing key judicial officers.
He noted that the said cabal has been wielding uncanny control over who becomes the Chief Judge of the state under several administrations.
He said: “The cartel has over the years determined who the Chief Judge of the state becomes. They have for the past twenty one years, thrown overboard due process and order of seniority in the appointment of the state’s Chief Judge. They exercise enormous control over the state’s Judicial Service Commission which handles the processing of appointment of Judges.”
He said: “The first female Judge, Justice Ifunanya Udom that ought to have occupied this same position was frustrated to death. She was in fact, the most senior on the bench at the time. Justice Ijeoma Agugua who incidentally is the Acting Chief Judge today and a female is once again being frustrated by the same cartel.
He explained that the governor’s choice of an Acting Chief Judge of the state without recourse to the said group, has drawn the ire of the cartel which is why they are kicking against Uzodinma’s appointment of a female Acting Chief Judge.
He explained that the governor’s choice of an Acting Chief Judge of the state without recourse to the said group, has drawn the ire of the cartel which is why they are kicking against Uzodinma’s appointment of a female Acting Chief Judge.
“On the 13th of March, 2020, Governor Uzodinma swore in Hon. Justice Ijeoma Agugua as the Acting Chief Judge of the state, following the retirement of Justice Paschal O. Nnadi. The retiring Chief Judge was in fact a junior to Justice Agugua but “the cartel” through its machinations allegedly manoeuvred the emergence of Justice Paschal O. Nnadi as the Chief Judge. So the decision of the governor to confront this cartel and champion equity and justice must be commended.”
Recalling the experience of his younger brother in the hands of the cartel, Njemanze maintained he was talking from the point of knowledge and not speculation.
He continued: “An unsuccessful attempt was made to supersede my younger brother, Justice B.A. Njemanze (rtd) with Justice P.O. Nnadi (rtd) in 2007 but for the decision of ex-Governor Ikedi Ohakim who insisted on seniority. This same Hon. Justice Agugua was appointed to the higher bench on the same day as Hon Justice B.A. Njemanze (rtd), who she served as Administrative Judge. Her brilliance at the lower bench paved her way to the higher bench at a tender age.
But this malevolent group in an effort to circumvent her appointment, posted her out of Owerri to Mbaise and replaced her with a junior Judge, who was close to his retirement. Having now cleared the coast, they started fabricating unanswered queries, manufacturing documents, creating allegations and comments that were purportedly made by the same Chief Judges that benefited from the activities of the cartel. All in the vain bid of making it impossible for Justice Ijeoma Agugua to be appointed the Chief Judge of the state.”
Prince Njemanze who is of the Njemanze dynasty in Owerri said the group had perpetually recycled the membership of the Judicial Service Commission from where they influence every activity of the bar and bench.
“They determine who leads the bar and bench and virtually influence and overreach almost all the decisions in the running of the affairs of the state judiciary while deciding which names should go to the NJC for the appointment of Judges.
