Abia’s ex-Chief Justice, Uzokwe, challenges her compulsory retirement by NJC

The former Chief Justice of Abia State, Justice Theresa Uzokwe,
has filed an appeal before the National Industrial Court, Abuja,
challenging her compulsory retirement by the National Judicial
Council.

When the matter came up for mention on Wednesday, her counsel,
Nnamdi Nwokocha-Ahaaiwe, told the court that he had before it,
Motion on Notice for an order brought pursuant to Order 50, Rule 8
of NICN (Civil procedure) Rules, 2017.

In the order, Uzokwe the applicant, is seeking for the order of
the court compelling the respondent to accept her Notice of
Appeal.

She is also seeking an order compelling the respondent to
compile the Certified True Copies of record of proceedings and
transmit it to the court.

The respondent’s counsel, Dan Idakwo, who was holding the brief
of Dr. Garba Tetengi, on his part said that they had filed
Memoradum of Conditional Appearance and Notice of Preliminary
Objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court.

Nwokocha-Ahaaiwe in turn told the court that he was served with
the notice on Tuesday.

He, therefore, asked for a short date in order for him to
respond to the preliminary objection.

The judge, Justice Kiyersohot Damulak, queried why it took the
respondent’s counsel time to file his processes as he observed that
they were served in Dec.2018.

Idakwo told the court that his office was just served hearing
notice on Monday and they filed their processes on Tuesday.

Following his reply, Damulak adjourned the matter until March 5
for hearing of the respondent’s preliminary objection.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the NJC in March 2018,
recommended the compulsory retirement of Uzokwe following the
alleged findings of two investigative committees it instituted to
look into petitions of misconduct against her.

(NAN)