NJC Asserts Justice Maurice Ikpambese Remains Benue Chief Judge Despite Alleged Removal by State Assembly
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The National Judicial Council (NJC) has confirmed that Justice Maurice Ikpambese remains the Chief Judge of Benue State, despite reports of his purported removal by the Benue State House of Assembly. In a statement released on Wednesday, NJC spokesperson Kemi Ogedengbe emphasized that the council would thoroughly investigate the complaints against Ikpambese before making any decisions.
The NJC further stated that the actions taken by the Benue State House of Assembly to remove the Chief Judge are unconstitutional and cannot stand. The council referred to the clear constitutional provisions regarding the discipline and appointment of judicial officers, noting that these procedures had not been followed in this case.
The Benue State Caucus in the National Assembly had earlier condemned the attempted removal, calling it unconstitutional and illegal, and urged the NJC to intervene to prevent a constitutional crisis. The lawmakers warned that failure to address the issue could prompt the National Assembly to step in, as permitted by the constitution.
