A group of retired judicial officers from Kogi State has publicly lamented what they describe as years of neglect by the state government, urging Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to urgently pay their outstanding retirement entitlements, months or even years after their exit from active service.
In a statement made available to journalists on Thursday, January 15, 2026, the former judges said the failure to settle their constitutionally guaranteed benefits has plunged them into hardship and disappointment, despite decades of meritorious service to the judiciary and the nation.
The retirees accused the Kogi State Government of flouting clear constitutional provisions and established laws that guarantee pensions, gratuities and other allowances for retired judicial officers. According to the statement, they have completed and submitted all required documentation for their entitlements, yet several years on, they remain unpaid.
“The irony is painful,” one former judge lamented, highlighting the contrast between their past responsibilities and current struggles. “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 stressed that these entitlements are not privileges, but legal rights intended to safeguard the dignity, independence and welfare of judges after retirement.
In the statement, the retired judges itemised a series of unpaid benefits owed to them, including: Gratuity payments, medical allowances, security allowances and statutory vehicle allocations.
All these, they noted, are provided for under the laws governing the welfare of retired judicial officers but remain unsettled by the state government.
The retirees described the continued silence and inaction from the government as “negligent, unjust and degrading,” warning that such treatment undermines public confidence in the state’s commitment to justice and fairness.
The affected retired judges named in the statement include: Hon. Justice Sunday Omeiza Otu (Rtd), Hon. Justice Olorunfemi Richard Olorunju (Rtd), Former Chief Judge of Kogi State, Hon. Justice John Bayo Olowosegun (Rtd), Former President, Customary Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Yunusa Musa (Rtd), 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)
Several of these officers served for decades, retiring between 2021 and 2023, and now say they face emotional distress and economic uncertainty due to the continued non-payment of amounts due to them.
The judges urged Governor Ododo to immediately intervene by ordering the payment of all outstanding entitlements. They warned that what they described as prolonged neglect would not only damage the welfare of retired judicial officers but could also have long-term implications for the independence of the judiciary and the morale of serving justices.
“Continued neglect of retired judges undermines the dignity of the judiciary, discourages judicial independence and sends a dangerous signal to serving judicial officers,” the statement said in part.
The retired judges appealed to the conscience of the state leadership 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 judicial service.
Across Nigeria, the non-payment of retirement benefits to judges and judicial officers has previously drawn criticism from national bodies. For example, the National Judicial Council (NJC) has condemned similar delays and urged states to settle retirees’ entitlements in order to preserve judicial independence and respect for the Constitution.
However, in Kogi State, tangible progress on the implementation of such calls has remained elusive, with the former judges now publicly appealing for redress after years of silence and inaction from relevant authorities.
