BREAKING: NJC orders Benue CJ to remain in office pending investigation

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has stated that Maurice Ikpambese, the Chief Judge of Benue State, will remain in office pending an investigation into a petition filed against him.

This comes after the Benue State House of Assembly on Tuesday recommended his suspension over allegations of abuse of office and gross misconduct.

The resolution was reached after a letter from Governor Hyacinth Alia was read during plenary by Saater Tiseer, the House Majority Leader.

The NJC, which oversees judicial discipline, has emphasized that due process must be followed before any action is taken against the Chief Judge. The investigation will determine the merit of the allegations before a final decision is made.

According to the letter, there are five allegations against the chief judge, including abuse of office by issuing a directive to overturn the Benue state electoral law passed by the assembly and assented to by the governor.

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Others are misappropriation and mismanagement of the budgetary allocation and finances of the Benue state judiciary, engagement with politicians and political officeholders for favourable judicial outcomes, and indirect participation and incitement of industrial actions against the state executive.

Twenty-three out of the 31 lawmakers in the house voted for the suspension of the chief judge.

In a statement on Wednesday, Kemi Ogedengbe, NJC’s deputy director of information, said the council has received the petition against Ikpambese.

Ogedengbe said there are clear provisions of the Constitution on the appointment and discipline of judicial officers.

“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 clearly are not adhered to in the instant case,” the statement reads.

“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.

“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.”

(TheCable)