Amid ongoing controversy surrounding alleged age falsification among former judges in Imo State, the State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has accused an unnamed group—described as a cabal—of orchestrating the turmoil within the judiciary.
The Director of Information for the Commission, Frank Okafor, made this known in a statement dated June 13, 2025.
He disclosed that the National Judicial Council (NJC) had granted Governor Hope Uzodimma permission to appoint 10 new judges to the Imo State judiciary.
Okafor claimed that a judiciary cabal had deeply infiltrated the state’s legal system, including the Owerri branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), where appointments and judgments were allegedly influenced by loyalty rather than merit.
He also criticized Professor Anselm Odinkalu for his public comments on the crisis, accusing the legal scholar of making baseless allegations and resorting to name-calling.
“We are disappointed in some eminent Nigerians who have decided to damage their credibility by interfering in Imo Judiciary affairs without proper investigation,” the statement read.
In particular, Okafor took issue with Odinkalu, whom he accused of acting on misinformation.
“Most to be pitied is our friend Prof. Anselm Odinkalu, who in his usual style as an armchair critic, called members of the commission ‘petty rogues’ without presenting any proof of misconduct.
One would expect a professor of law to verify facts before making such serious accusations.”
Okafor stated that while 19 judges are currently under investigation over alleged age manipulation, the commission is yet to determine who was actually involved.
“No one knows for certain who altered their ages or how many judges are culpable.
The members of the commission were themselves shocked when reports from the Nigerian Law School and Council of Legal Education revealed that as many as 19 judges—including young and highly capable ones—were implicated,” he said.
On the redeployment of the former Chief Registrar of the High Court, Okafor stressed that the JSC remains committed to upholding justice and has no interest in targeting individuals.
“In line with our oath to uphold truth and justice, the commission has not, and will not, engage in any form of witch-hunting,” he added.