Benue Assembly Faults NBA, NJC Stance Over CJ Case
The Benue State House of Assembly has accused the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) of interfering in the politics of the state to please some Benue politicians resident in Abuja.
Addressing journalists at the Government House on Thursday, the Majority Leader, Saater Tiseer, said the constitution gives the Assembly the powers to act on the concerns of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
Tiseer said the resolution of the House to remove the embattled Chief Judge of the state, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, was supported by a two-thirds majority of the House.
The majority leader also faulted the position of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to query the CJ’s removal process, noting that the assembly has no business with the NJC so long as it complies with section 292 of the constitution.
The NJC had on Wednesday said Justice Ikpambese remained the Chief Judge of Benue State and that the purported removal of the chief judge by the Benue State House of Assembly cannot stand.
“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,” The judicial council had said.
“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 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 principles of fair hearing.”
