The judges accused the Kogi State Government of violating clear constitutional provisions and established laws that guarantee pensions, gratuities and allowances for retired judicial officers.
Retired judges of Kogi State have raised serious concerns over what they describe as prolonged neglect and the persistent refusal of the state government to pay their retirement benefits several years after leaving active judicial service.
The retired judicial officers, who bowed out of service between 2021 and 2023 after decades of meritorious service to the state and the nation, say they are now living in hardship, uncertainty and emotional distress as a result of the non-payment of their constitutionally guaranteed entitlements.
In a statement made available to journalists on Thursday, the judges accused the Kogi State Government of violating clear constitutional provisions and established laws that guarantee pensions, gratuities and allowances for retired judicial officers.
They noted that these benefits are not privileges but legal rights meant to preserve the dignity, independence and welfare of judges after retirement.
According to the retirees, all necessary documentation relating to their entitlements has been duly processed and verified, but repeated appeals and formal representations to relevant state officials, including the Office of the Governor, have yielded no positive response.
They said the situation has become even more distressing, as retired judicial officers who once upheld justice and constitutional order now remain unpaid.
“The irony is painful,” one of the retired judges lamented. “Those who spent their lives defending the rule of law are now being denied the protections and benefits guaranteed by the same law.”
The retirees listed their outstanding entitlements to include gratuity payments, medical allowances, security allowances and statutory vehicle allocations, all of which are provided for under existing laws governing the welfare of retired judicial officers.
They described the government’s continued silence and inaction as negligent, unjust and degrading, warning that such treatment erodes public confidence in the state’s commitment to justice and fairness.
The affected retired judges are Hon. Justice Sunday Omeiza Otu (Rtd); Hon. Justice Olorunfemi Richard Olorunju (Rtd); former Chief Judge of Kogi State, Hon. Justice John Bayo Olowosegun (Rtd) and former President, Customary Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Yunusa Musa (Rtd).
Others are Hon. Justice Esther O. Haruna (Rtd); Hon. Justice Andrew Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye (Rtd); Hon. Justice Olutimehin Samuel Obayomi (Rtd) and Hon. Justice Elias Adem Egwu (Rtd).
The judges called on Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to urgently intervene by ordering the immediate payment of all outstanding entitlements and settling the long-overdue benefits without further delay.
They stressed that continued neglect of retired judges has grave implications beyond their personal welfare, warning that it undermines the dignity of the judiciary, discourages judicial independence and sends a dangerous signal to serving judicial officers.
The retired judges therefore appealed to the conscience of the state leadership, urging the government to act in accordance with the law and uphold the values of justice, fairness and respect for the rule of law.
They maintained that prompt payment of their entitlements would not only restore their dignity but also reaffirm the state’s commitment to constitutional governance and respect for the judiciary.