The National Judicial Council (NJC) has voided the suspension of the Chief Judge of Benue State, Maurice Ikpambese, by the House of Assembly. The NJC described the decision as an affront to constitutional provisions on the disciplining of judges. In a statement by its spokesperson, Kemi Ogendengbe, the NJC reiterated that only the Council has the authority to investigate and discipline judicial officers. The attention of the NJC 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. Unfortunately, as this development is, the Council wishes to reiterate that there are clear and unambiguous provisions of the 1999 Constitution on discipline and appointment of judicial officers vested in the Council, which clearly are not adhered to in the instant case. Although the Council this morning received a petition against Hon. Justice Maurice Ikpambese, that petition is yet to be investigated in line with Councils investigation procedure and the principles 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. The Benue State House of Assembly had suspended Ikpambese over allegations of misappropriation and mismanagement of the judiciarys budgetary allocation and finances. The removal was based on a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Saater Tiseer, who accused the Chief Judge of engaging with politicians and political officeholders to influence judicial outcomes. Tiseer also alleged bribery, corruption, and undue favoritism in judicial appointments, as well as abuse of office for overturning the Benue State Electoral Law, which had been passed by the Assembly and assented to by the governor. The motion was seconded by Peter Ipusu, after which Speaker Hyacinth Dajoh directed the immediate swearing-in of the next most senior judge as the Acting Chief Judge of Benue. Dajoh further stated that a petition against Ikpambese would be forwarded to the NJC for investigation. Meanwhile, 13 members of the Assembly were suspended for three months over what the Speaker described as dishonourable actions capable of casting aspersions and causing acrimony in the House. The House condemned the actions of Douglas Akya, the member representing Makurdi South Constituency, and 12 others who had addressed a press conference distancing themselves from the Chief Judges removal. The Assembly also directed the Clerk to retrieve funds already disbursed to the suspended members for their upcoming trip to London.The post NJC voids suspension of Benue Chief Judge by state Assembly appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.NJC voids suspension of Benue Chief Judge by state Assembly
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has voided the suspension of the Chief Judge of Benue State, Maurice Ikpambese, by the House of Assembly. The NJC described the decision as an affront to constitutional provisions on the disciplining of judges. In a statement by its spokesperson, Kemi Ogendengbe, the NJC reiterated that only the Council has the authority to investigate and discipline judicial officers. The attention of the NJC 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. Unfortunately, as this development is, the Council wishes to reiterate that there are clear and unambiguous provisions of the 1999 Constitution on discipline and appointment of judicial officers vested in the Council, which clearly are not adhered to in the instant case. Although the Council this morning received a petition against Hon. Justice Maurice Ikpambese, that petition is yet to be investigated in line with Councils investigation procedure and the principles 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. The Benue State House of Assembly had suspended Ikpambese over allegations of misappropriation and mismanagement of the judiciarys budgetary allocation and finances. The removal was based on a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Saater Tiseer, who accused the Chief Judge of engaging with politicians and political officeholders to influence judicial outcomes. Tiseer also alleged bribery, corruption, and undue favoritism in judicial appointments, as well as abuse of office for overturning the Benue State Electoral Law, which had been passed by the Assembly and assented to by the governor. The motion was seconded by Peter Ipusu, after which Speaker Hyacinth Dajoh directed the immediate swearing-in of the next most senior judge as the Acting Chief Judge of Benue. Dajoh further stated that a petition against Ikpambese would be forwarded to the NJC for investigation. Meanwhile, 13 members of the Assembly were suspended for three months over what the Speaker described as dishonourable actions capable of casting aspersions and causing acrimony in the House. The House condemned the actions of Douglas Akya, the member representing Makurdi South Constituency, and 12 others who had addressed a press conference distancing themselves from the Chief Judges removal. The Assembly also directed the Clerk to retrieve funds already disbursed to the suspended members for their upcoming trip to London.The post NJC voids suspension of Benue Chief Judge by state Assembly appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.