By Amos Aar
THE BENUE State House of Assembly has called for the immediate removal of the Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, citing gross violations of the judicial code of conduct and actions deemed incompatible with the office of a judicial officer in Nigeria.
The Assembly further recommended the immediate swearing-in of the next most senior judicial officer in the state as Acting Chief Judge. This decision was reached on Tuesday during a plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Aondona Dajoh.
According to a correspondence presented by the Majority Leader, Comrade Saater Tiseer, Justice Ikpambese was accused of offenses including issuing directives to overturn the Benue State Electoral Law, which had been passed by the Assembly and assented to by the governor, misappropriation and mismanagement of the Benue State Judiciary’s budgetary allocations, engaging with politicians to influence judicial outcomes, allegedly supporting and encouraging strikes against the State Executive and engaging in acts of bribery, showing undue favoritism, and insisting on appointing cronies to undeserved positions.
Out of the members present, 23 lawmakers voted in favor of the Chief Judge’s removal.
It was not clear as at press time if a state assembly has disciplinary powers over judicial officers, especially the chief judge of a state as such powers reside with the National Judicial Council (NJC).
During the plenary, the House summoned the Director General of Benue Homeland Security, Air Commodore Jacob Gbanwuan (Rtd.), to appear before it on March 25, 2025 and explain recent comments he made on the killings in Kwande LGA.
The summon followed a motion of urgent public importance by Hon. Pharmacist Thomas Dugeri (Kwande West Constituency), who informed the House that the DG had appeared on Africa Independent Television (AIT) and denied reports of mass killings by armed herdsmen in Kwande.
Hon. Dugeri argued that the DG’s public denial of the attacks had sparked public outrage and criticism against the state government.
Supporting the motion, Hon. Anyor Mato (Kwande East constituency) and Hon. Mrs. Becky Orpin (Gboko East constituency) condemned the killings and questioned why the DG would refute such reports on national television. Both members insisted he must appear before the House without fail.
The Assembly also urged the Benue State Governor to dismiss the entire technical crew of Lobi Stars FC, citing gross misconduct and poor team performance.
Hon. Alfred Emberga (Makurdi North Constituency), who moved the motion, criticised the club’s poor showing in the Nigeria Premier Football League, noting that despite substantial state investment, the team narrowly avoided relegation and remains at the bottom of the league table.
Hon. Bemdoo Ipusu (Katsina-Ala constituency) seconded the motion, stating that the technical crew lacks the capacity to manage the team and should be relieved of their duties immediately.
In addition, the “Benue State Symbol and Anthem Bill,” an executive bill, passed its first reading on the floor of the House. The bill was introduced by the Majority Leader, Hon. Saater Tiseer.
