Chioma Okoli’s Case: Nasarawa Judicial Commission Dismisses Chief Magistrate For Misconduct, Abuse Of Power

By Sahara Reporters
January 10, 2025

The disciplinary action was prompted by a petition from Nigerian human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, submitted in August 2024 to the Honourable Chief Judge of Nasarawa State.

The Nasarawa State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has approved the demotion and dismissal of Chief Magistrate Emmanuel A. Jatau, who previously served in Masaka, Nasarawa State.

Jatau has been downgraded from Chief Magistrate II (GL 15) to Senior Magistrate I (GL 14) and relieved of all magisterial duties.

Meanwhile, the decision followed a recommendation by the Committee for Appointments, Promotions, and Discipline (CAPD).

The disciplinary action was prompted by a petition from Nigerian human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, submitted in August 2024 to the Honourable Chief Judge of Nasarawa State.

Effiong accused Jatau of judicial misconduct, forgery, illegality, and abuse of power.

He stated that the Magistrate Court in Masaka issued fabricated documents which bore an official filing stamp from the Federal High Court (FHC) in Lagos, signed by a staff member of the FHC, Lagos, identified as M. Tofowomo-Adegbite (Mr.), and dated January 8, 2024.

According to Inibehe, the police did not attempt to secure a valid warrant of arrest or a warrant of commitment to prison on remand from any court in Lagos, where the defendant resides, or in Abuja, where the case was reported.

He said instead, they allegedly conspired with certain unscrupulous elements within the Nasarawa State Judiciary to fabricate documents falsely labelled as a warrant of arrest and a warrant of commitment to prison on remand.

The case involved Jatau’s issuance of a Warrant of Arrest and Warrant of Commitment to Prison for one Okoli Udoka Chioma from Lagos to Nasarawa State.

Effiong argued that the alleged offences were not committed within Nasarawa State, nor did the defendant reside there, rendering the court’s actions outside its jurisdiction.

In a letter released on Monday, Yahaya Yakubu Shafa, Executive Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission, confirmed the disciplinary actions against Jatau.

The statement read, “You would recall that following the receipt of your complaint against the Hon. Chief Magistrate, Masaka Nasarawa State, the committee for Appointments, Promotions and Discipline (CAPD) invited you to prove your allegations in the interest of fair hearing. Thereafter, the Committee deliberated and made recommendations to the Commission.

“At the regular meeting of the Nasarawa State Judicial Service Commission held on the 6th December 2024, the findings and recommendations made by the committee was approved.

“Consequently, I have been directed by the Hon. Chief Judge of Nasarawa State and Chairman Judicial Service Commission to write and inform you that Hon. Emmanuel A. Jatau has been demoted by a grade level lower than his current grade level i.e from Chief Magistrate II on GL 15 to Senior Magistrate I on GL 14 and stripped of his magisterial duties,” Shafa added.

On May 2024, SaharaReporters reported that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ordered Chioma Okoli to be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre over the review of Tomato products made by Erisco Foods Limited on Facebook.

Chioma Okoli was arraigned on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at the Federal High Court in Abuja before Hon. Justice Peter Lifu.

Okoli pleaded not guilty to the two counts of conspiracy and cyberstalking levelled against her.

She was remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre till Friday 31st May, 2024 for ruling on her bail application.

Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, along with S. M Oyeghe appeared for Chioma while Abdulrashid Isyaku-Sidi appeared for the Inspector General of Police.

Okoli’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, told the court that his client suffered miscarriage in the course of the case and eventually lost her baby.

Recall that the CEO of Erisco Foods, Eric Umeofia, had alleged in 2023 that a negative product review by a customer, Chioma Egodi, negatively impacted his business when she claimed that the Nagiko Tomota Mix she bought had too much sugar.

Okoli was eventually arrested by the police in September 2023 with her lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, raising alarm that the fundamental right of his client was being breached by the police and Umeofia.

Meanwhile, in August 2024, Inibehe Effiong, the lawyer representing *Okoli Chioma petitioned* the Nasarawa State Judicial Service Commission, *over forged documents used by the police in* a suit pending before the Federal High Court in Lagos (Suit No: FHC/L/CS/2164/2023).

The case, titled MRS. CHIOMA EDOKA OKOLI v. ERISCO FOODS LIMITED & 6 ORS, includes an application by the *Applicant* against the Nigeria Police Force and others for the enforcement of her fundamental rights.