THE Nigerian Bar Association on Monday asked the Cross Rivers State Governor, Ben Ayade, and the State House of Assembly, to accept the recommendation of Justice Akon Ikpeme by the National Judicial Council as the substantive Chief Judge of the state.

In a statement issued on behalf of the association, the NBA President, Mr Olumide Akpata, blamed the governor and the state legislature for the lingering appointment crisis, which he said, had left the office of the Chief Judge of the state vacant for two consecutive weeks.

The association asked the governor and the state legislature to urgently resolve the crisis, which he said, was crippling judicial activities and undermining the independence of the judiciary in the state.

The office of the Chief Judge of Cross River State has been vacant for about two weeks, following the expiration of the three-month tenure of Justice Maurice Odey Eneji, in acting capacity.

The legislature, in refusing to confirm her appointment, alleged that she constituted a security risk because she hailed from the neighbouring Akwa Ibom State by birth, and only acquired the Cross River State citizenship by marriage.

The NBA stated on Monday that the reason adduced by the House of Assembly for refusing to confirm Ikpeme’s appointment was disturbing.

The statement read in part, “The failure of or refusal by, the government of Cross River State to complete the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge is, therefore, brewing a constitutional crisis and strikes at the very root of the rule of law.”

Reacting, the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to Governor Ben Ayade, Christian Ita, said, “There is nothing the governor can do if he has not received any letter from the NJC (National Judicial Council).


It is only when the governor receives a letter from the NJC that he can forward it to the House of Assembly. Then if the House of Assembly confirms, the governor swears in the person.


“What happened in Akon Ikpeme’s case is that the moment the House of Assembly refused to confirm her, the governor does not have the power to override the House of Assembly.”

https://punchng.com/accept-candidate-recommended-by-njc-as-cj-nba-tells-ayade/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR0neT4Bx5sch4gFUDhPaRB91lqaIiOFIIwwkZoFXJt4n7rTAWkiUcJhiXw#Echobox=1600171819


Lalasticlala

So much for said Akwa-Cross..


No need to hide any longer. The beef is real.

Its disheartening to hear that my wife may be denied citizenship of my state in the future. What are people smoking in this country??

A woman that left her family and dropped the family name she grew up with??

These same set of people will be the first to demand citizenship rights from other countries by marriage/birth/long stay.

A lot of our people are just mean and heartless. I strongly believe if it is Africans that are in the position of advantage like other 1st world countries, they would have been far more bitter and racist than what we claim are the wicked acts of so called 1st world countries.

agabusta:
Its disheartening to hear that my wife may be denied citizenship of my state in the future. What are people smoking in this country??

A woman that left her family and dropped the family name she grew up with??

These same set of people will be the first to demand citizenship rights from other countries by marriage/birth/long stay.

A lot of our people are just mean and heartless. I strongly believe if it is Africans that are in the position of advantage like other 1st world countries, they would have been far more bitter and racist than what we claim are the wicked acts of so called 1st world countries.

You've said it all

The southern online warriors won’t come out and condemn this now because it is happening in the south and not APC/Fulani state.

Xenophobia at home yet we are quick to condemn South Africa and Ghana. when back home the same self hate is brewing.

This is just Sad