- NBA Seeks Sanction On Any Judge Who Takes Over As Acting CJ
THE NATIONAL Judicial Council (NJC) has affirmed that Justice Maurice Ikpambese remains the Chief Judge of Benue State.
In a statement on Wednesday by Mrs Kemi Ogedengbe, NJC’s spokesperson, the council emphasised that Ikpambese will continue in his role until the complaints against him are thoroughly investigated and reviewed by the council.
The statement reads: “The attention of the National Judicial Council has been drawn to a certain media report to the effect that the Benue State House of Assembly has purportedly passed a resolution recommending the removal of the state Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Maurice Ikpambese from office.
“Unfortunate as this development is, Council wishes to reiterate that there are clear and unambiguous provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, on discipline and appointment of Judicial Officers, vested in the Council, which are not adhered to in the instant case.
“Although the Council had this morning, received a petition against Hon. Justice Maurice Ikpambese, that petition is yet to be investigated in line with Council’s Investigation Procedure and the principle of fair hearing.
“As far as Council is therefore concerned until the complaint is investigated and deliberated upon by it, Hon. Justice Maurice Ikpambese remains the Chief Judge of Benue State.”
National Record had reported how the Benue State House of Assembly had recommended the immediate removal of Ikpambese as the Chief Judge of Benue State, citing gross violations of ethical codes of conduct and actions deemed incompatible with the office of a judicial officer.
The Assembly further called for the immediate swearing-in of the judicial officer next-in-line as the Acting Chief Judge of Benue State.
The decision was reached during a plenary session on Tuesday presided over by the Speaker, Aondona Dajoh.
The House accused Justice Ikpambese of abuse of office, financial misconduct, political interference, industrial incitement and bribery and favouritism.
It also accused Justice Ikpambese of “issuing directives to overturn the Benue State Electoral Law, which had been duly passed by the Assembly and assented to by the governor.
“Financial Misconduct – misappropriation and mismanagement of budgetary allocations and finances of the Benue State Judiciary.
“Political Interference – engagement with politicians and political officeholders to influence judicial outcomes.
“Industrial Incitement – indirect involvement in and incitement of industrial actions against the State Executive.
“Bribery and Favoritism – Allegations of bribery, undue favoritism, and insistence on appointing cronies to unmerited positions.”
The assembly on Wednesday suspended 13 members of the house over what is described as dishonourable conduct.
NBA Kicks
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has urged the NJC to sanction any judge of the Benue State High Court that accepts to be made the acting Chief Judge of the state.
In a statement co-signed by its President and General Secretary, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, and Dr Mobolaji Ojibara, respectively, the NBA maintained that Sections 153 and 271 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, established the NJC as the body responsible for recommending the appointment and removal of state Chief Judges.
“The Constitution gives the NJC the exclusive power of exercising disciplinary control over judicial officers, by ensuring that any allegation of misconduct is thoroughly investigated and decided to maintain the integrity and independence of the judiciary.
“By purporting to have the power to consider allegations of financial impropriety and abuse of office against the Chief Judge as well as recommending his removal, the Benue State House of Assembly exhibited crass knowledge of the provisions of the Constitution in that regard and clearly evinced an intention to trample on the Constitutional guardrails against such bad behaviour.
