Removal of Chief Judge: Benue Assembly approaches Supreme Court

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

The Benue State House of Assembly has passed a resolution to approach the apex court of Nigeria to seek for the interpretation of section 292 ( 1) A (11) as it pertains to the removal of a Chief judge.

The House took the decision during a Plenary presided by the Speaker Chief Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh.

This followed a motion of urgent public importance, moved by Majority Leader of the House, Saater Tiseer, informing the house that after the house secured a two – third majority on the 18th, February 2025, in support of the recommendation to remove Justice Maurice Ikpambese, as Chief Judge of Benue State. 

He explained that after receiving a complaint from the Attorney General of the State, detailing allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, bribery and corruption and other sundry allegations, the house received condemnation from  different quarters including the Senate, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the National Judicial Council ( NJC).

Tiseer further explained that after the tongue – lashing of the Benue State House of Assembly, the House of Representatives, on Wednesday 26th March, 2025 passed for a second Reading, a bill to give the National Judicial Council a role in the removal of a Chief judge, thereby vindicating the Benue State House of Assembly.

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He said the bill by the National Assembly means that the NJC currently has no role in the removal of the Chief Judge as clearly stated In section 292 (1) a (11) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

The House agreed to approach the apex court immediately for proper interpretation of the section of the constitution empowering it to recommend the removal of the Chief Judge to further put to rest the controversies surrounding its action.

Also during Plenary the house summoned the Director General, Public Procurement, Commissioner for Finance, Attorney General of the State and Monimichelle Sports Facility Construction Limited to appear before it on  Wednesday, April 2nd, to explain why the contract for the renovation work at Aper Aku Stadium has been abandoned.

The House also condemned in strong terms the activities of saboteurs who have come under the guise of Benue Sacks to inflict hardship on Benue farmers and buyers through indiscriminate levies and summoned the commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment and Special Adviser, Local Government Market Coordination and Monitoring to appear before it on  Wednesday, April 2nd 2025.

They  directed those involved in the monitoring and coordinating Benue Sacks Compliance on all roads to withdraw forth with, mandating security agencies to make arrests of those involved immediately.

The House also summoned the leadership of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Benue State Branch, to appear before its leadership on Thursday, 3rd April 2025, to explain in detail the reason for the prolonged strike by the Union which has paralyzed the Judicial System in the State.

Also during Plenary, the House summoned the Managing Director, Benue State Agricultural Development Company, Mr. Donald Aorkwagh Kule to appear before it and account for the over One Billion Naira released to him to purchase assorted grains from Benue farmers.

Also the Zone C Caucus at the Benue State House of Assembly on behalf of the entire Zone C people  at the plenary distanced themselves from the call by one Philip Agbese for the National Assembly to take over the functions of the Benue State House of Assembly.

The members including Kennedy Angbo, Audu Michael, Anthony Agom and others  faulted Agbese for his lack of knowledge over legislative activities and warned him to stop playing to the gallery of Abuja Politicians who did not mean well for the Benue people.

The House also received report of the House Standing Committee on Industry, Trade and Investment on Makurdi Modern Market and the Ultra Modern International Market, by Moses Egbodo Chairman of the Committee and a report of the Benue State House of Assembly Standing Committee on Education on its working visit to Area  Education Offices, Local Government Education Authorities, Government Owned and Grant Aided Secondary Schools And Universal Basic Education Schools in the three senatorial districts, presented by the Minority Whip, Cephas Dyako.

The two reports were referred by the Speaker  Aondona Dajoh to the Rules and Business Committee.