From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly Hyacinth Aondona Dajo has insisted that the assembly acted well within its constitutional mandate in recommending and approving the removal of the Chief Judge Justice Maurice Ikpambese.
Speaker Dajoh stated this in a reply to the Senate Committee On Judiciary Human Rights and Legal Matters which had written to the assembly to reverse its decision on the alleged suspension of the CJ.
The assembly insisted that its decision remains lawful, final, and conclusive, except set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Recalled that the Senate had in a letter signed by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Adegbanmire Adeniyi Ayodele, SAN, and addressed to the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, expressing deep concern over the purported removal of the Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, insisting that the action was carried out without due regard to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, particularly in respect to the tenure and removal of judicial officers under the provision of Section 292 of the 1999 constitution.
Senator Ayodele, had urged the Members of the Benue State House of Assembly to take necessary steps to address the issue, ensuring that all the decisions regarding the suspension of Justice Ikpambese, were not in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
But in its response, the Benue State House of Assembly through the Speaker, Hon. Aondona Dajoh, said the state Assembly remained deeply committed to the rule of law and fully understands the constitutional safeguards surrounding the tenure and removal of judicial officers as enshrined in Section 292 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
