We followed constitutional provision in removing CJ -Benue Assembly insist

• CRPP demands reversal, apology

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Despite outpour of criticisms,  the Benue State House of Assembly has insisted that the Chief Judge of the State Justice Maurice Ikpambese stands removed from office.

Making this position known, Majority Leader of the Assembly Comrade Saater Tiseer, who spoke  at a press conference held at Government House, Makurdi, frowned at the statement issued by Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) condemning the action of the House.

Tiseer said the NBA was too hasty in castigating the action of the House  and rushed to call its resolution a ‘sham’ without understanding the issues and the working of the assembly.

The Majority Leader explained that the House arrived at its decision to remove the Chief Judge pursuant to section 292(1) and (11) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He said: “As far as we are concerned, we removed the CJ in line with the constitution. Section  292 (1) and (11) empowers us to do so, we do not have any business with National Judicial Council (NJC).

“We are working for the interest of the State. We not a rubber stamp assembly. We are not concerned with the position of the NBA who were hasty and did not know about the workings of the House. The press release issued by NBA was ‘faulty’ as NBA based their argument outside 292.”

Similarly, while reacting to the Senate Minority Leader Sen Abba Moro, who convened a press conference in Abuja condemning the action of the House and calling for a reversal of their decision, Tiseer challenged him to take interest too in the crisis in Rivers State  which is a PDP controlled state.

“The same Abba Moro did not make noise when salaries were not paid in the State. People are afraid because of their conspiracy in the past to impoverish the people. I make bold to tell the minority leader of the senate to take over Rivers State assembly a PDP controlled state”, Tiseer said.

Meanwhile, the Coalition of Registered Parties in Nigeria (CRPP) Benue State chapter has condemned the Ikpambese’s removal, describing it as ‘a clear assault on the rule of law and an’ affront’ to democracy.

CRPP is demanding an immediate reversal of the  attempt to remove the Chief Judge and a public statement from Attorney General, Fidelis Mnyim denouncing this unconstitutional move as well as an apology from the Benue State House of Assembly for embarrassing the state and undermining democracy.

Briefing the media, the group led by Bishop Ben Ijachi, blamed the Mnyim for failing to properly guide the governor on the legal implications of this unconstitutional action.

It noted that as the chief legal officer of the state, Mnyim should have been the first to caution the government against such an unlawful move ‘but, he  remained silent in the face of this blatant constitutional violation’.

 Ijachi said the act is capable of taking the state back to the dark ages of judicial lawlessness, adding that the shameful incident has exposed the Benue State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Aondona Dajoh, as a body lacking basic knowledge of the law and legislative processes.

“The fact that these legislators could attempt such an unconstitutional act shows their ignorance and total disregard for due process. It is alarming that individuals who are expected to make laws for the good people of Benue lack a fundamental understanding of legal principles.

“They have not only disgraced themselves but have dragged the entire state into public disrepute. We call on them to bury their heads in shame.

“The judiciary is the last hope of the common man, and any attempt to undermine its independence must be strongly resisted. We, as political parties operating in Benue State, condemn this shameless act in its entirety and declare that enough is enough!

“The rule of law must be upheld, and the judiciary must be allowed to function effectively as the third arm of government, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The judiciary should remain free from any form of interference from the Benue State Government.

“As political parties, we will not stand idly by while democracy is trampled upon. If this reckless abuse of power continues, we will have no choice but to escalate our concerns to the national leadership of all political parties, the National Judicial Council (NJC), and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We call on the Benue State Government to immediately disconnect itself from this evil, shameful, and unconstitutional attack on the judiciary. The people of Benue have spoken, and as it is rightly said, “the voice of the people is the voice of God”, the group said.