Intervene in the judicial crisis of Benue now, the OSC tell the federal government

A coalition of civil society organizations (OSC), under the auspices of the coalition for good governance and transparency in Nigeria (CGGTN), has asked the Federation Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to the emergency intervention in the state of the state of the Benue state.

The group said that the failure of the NJC and the Attorney General of the Federation to get into the matter, since it affects the “main judge” of the “state” of the State, Judge Maurice Ikpambese, will occupy the NJC facilities in a mass protest to press his demand for his demand and restore the order in Benue.

The Benue State Assembly Chamber had eliminated Judge Ikpambe for accusations of commitment, sabotage and bias.

However, the NJC rejected the elimination of the main judge that labeled it unconstitutional and a shameless contempt by the rule of law.

But speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the group led by Okpanachi Jacob gave the NJC 48 hours ultimatum to constitute a panel to investigate the IKPAMBSE justice on the alleged acts of commitment, sabotage and bias.

He said: “The Chamber of the State Assembly of Benue approved a resolution and recommended the elimination of the main judge of the state of Benue, the honorable Maurice Ikpambe based on the requests received about their alleged misconduct, abuse of charge, among other infractions.

“The Chamber was based on the subsection of section 292 (3) of the 1999 amended Constitution that states that the main judge of a State can be eliminated from the position if it is supported by two third majority of the Chamber of the State Assembly.

“That it is registered that there is no part of the Constitution that allows the NJC to eliminate a main judge of the position, but to discipline and recommend the same to the governor of a State that has the powers to eliminate a main judge if he is what he wants.

“The most worrying is the political exemption granted by the main judge of the state of Benue, Judge Ikpambe to the petitioners of the Electoral Petition Court of the Local Government, which is a clear case of prejudices, favoritism, commitment and political interest. It is impious for a main judge of a state that established the Panel of the Court of the electoral petition and also constituted that the appeal panel has shown said bias, which is already a judicial error.

“We firmly call the Governor of the State of Benue and the Chamber of the State Assembly do not succumb to the mischief of political enemies inside and outside Benue who are now using some officials to distract this current and current labor government in the State.

“While we give the 48 -hour ultimatum of NJC to constitute a panel, investigate and process Judge IkpamSe for its illicit act of commitment, sabotage and bias, we recommend the governor of the state of the state of Benue, the Reverend Jacinto alia alia immediately in the next online judge as the main active state judge.

“We call on the Attorney General of the Federation that intervenes immediately and guarantees the constitutional provision of the rights and privileges of the members of the Chamber of the Assembly of the State of Benue, the constitutional powers of the Executive Governor that has the powers to eliminate a main judge in line with section 292 of the 1999 Constitution as modified.

“We bold say that, the failure of the NJC and the Attorney General of the Federation to read the Riot Law to Judge IkpamSe and advise that it leaves outside, we will occupy the NJC facilities in a mass protest to press our demand, we will do this to save democracy and restore the order in the state of Benue,” he added.