The Acting Chief Judge of Kebbi State, Esther Asabe Karatu, has written a petition to the National Judicial Council over Governor Atiku Bagudu’s alleged refusal to confirm her as substantive chief judge of the state.

In the petition obtained by Daily Nigerian, the acting chief judge said politics of religion and her firm belief in justice and fairness were some of the reasons the state governor denied her rights despite the recommendation of NJC.

On January 17, 2019, the Kebbi State House of Assembly also confirmed Mrs Karatu as substantive chief judge of the state, but the governor refused to act on the assembly’s confirmation.

In a letter to the governor, referenced KBHA/LEG/001/XI and entitled RE: APPOINTMENT AND REQUEST FOR CONFIRMATION OF JUSTICE ELIZABETH ASABE KARATU AS CHIEF JUDGE OF KEBBI STATE, the speaker of the state House of Assembly Abdulmumini Kamba conveyed the Assembly’s approval.

“Reference to your submission dated, 6th November, 2018, I am glad to inform you that at an Executive Session held on Thursday, 17th January, 2019, the Hon. House resolved and confirmed Justice Elizabeth Asabe Karatu as the Chief Judge of Kebbi State,” the three-paragraph letter read in part.

Mrs Karatu, who is due to retire on July 5, 2019, was also denied right to swear-in the governor on May 29, 2019, a duty the Grand Khadi of the state, Muhtar Imam Jega.

But the Secretary to the Kebbi State Government, Babale Yauri, said the refusal of the governor to confirm Mrs Karatu as substantive chief justice was not because of her religion.

“The State Assembly did not screen her because of some discrepancies in her credentials. It was not the governor’s fault, and his action has nothing to do with religion,” he said.

According to the SSG, the letter purportedly sent to the governor by the State Assembly is fake as it was not duly signed.

But in the petition Mrs Karatu wrote to NJC, the judge also made case against the appointment of Justice Mohammed Sulaiman Ambursa to replace her for allegedly being corrupt and friends with politicians.

“The practice in the judiciary is that when judges are to be sworn into office, the one who was first called to bar would be sworn in first and thus he becomes the senior. However, in our case, Justice Ambursa was sworn in first even though I was called to the bar 6 years before him. I was called to the bar in 1980 while Justice Ambursa was called in 1986.

“After the retirement of Justice Ibrahim Bala, I was sworn in as Acting Chief Judge being the most Senior Judge. However, before my confirmation, Justice Ambursa engaged in trading with the Governor and the Speaker of the House of Assembly and indeed to the public that I was sponsored by the Christians Association of Nigeria to serve the Christendom. He spent a lot of money in forestalling my confirmation at the House, and eventually the house rejected me on the ground of alteration on my certificate which I believed must have been cooked by Justice Ambursa.

“I have been working for 35 years up to the rank of Permanent Secretary and later became a Judge but Justice Ambursa has never complained about my religion, in fact most of his victims are Muslims rather than Christians. I therefore believe that he is just using religion for his person gain. I was a Muslim before and all my Children are still devoted Muslims. I know what Islam is all about; it is religion of peace, fairness and Justice.

“In its effort to harmonize my relationship with the Governor, the NJC set up a Committee of Reconciliation in May, 2019 to come to Kebbi to talk to the Governor about my confirmation and swearing in. However, before the arrival of the members of the Committee, the Attorney General, Ramatu Gulma who is an ally to Justice Ambursa went to the Birnin Kebbi Airport with Government Vehicles to receive the members.

“At the meeting with the Governor, the Attorney General told the Committee that I am the enemy of the Government because I ordered the detention of family members of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo who were suspected to have committed the offence Fraud of Millions of Naira before Chief Magistrate Court in Birnin Kebbi.

“The Attorney General accused me of failure to assist the vice president’s family who were facing criminal charges which means I am the enemy of his Excellency and his political party. I therefore deserve no assistance.

“Before the end of the meeting, it was agreed that I would be sworn in as substantive Chief Judge but the Governor would recommend the next Chief Judge of Kebbi State, but yet I have not been sworn in and I will be retiring on 5th July, 2019.

“Undoubtedly, the entire crisis was masterminded by Justice M.S Ambursa in order to frustrate my administration as Chief Judge. His aim was to become the Chief Judge before 2019 Elections so that he will play a role in the Elections Petition Tribunals being a loyalist to Senator Adamu Aliero, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi and host of other politicians. It can be recalled that when Aliero was a Minister of the FCT, he allocated a very large plot of land to Justice Ambursa which he later sold,” the petition read in part.

https://dailypost.ng/2019/06/13/kebbi-acting-chief-judge-petitions-njc-bagudus-alleged-refusal-confirm-christian/

Politics of religion has killed this shiithole
and someone say Nigeria will be like China in 3030.

it definitely has something to to with her faith,if it were to b d oda way round,her confirmation would have been done and dusted. the way some people are playing the ethnic and religious card openly lately is very alarming.

Vice President's family? :oo


Cc: lalasticlala

This is weighty and a condemnation of a faulty system. It is no news the suppression of religious minorities in the North. It is deep rooted.

Northern Nigeria have an identity problem. A problem pased on to them by their founding fathers telling them in specifics the superiority of their tribe and religion above all others. I understand when a parent wants to beat out the inferiorities in his/her child especially when they identify severe disparities when compared with others. They often take it too far. That I understand and have clearly observed why their founding fathers sold the idea of superiority to them. They knew they fell short when put by side with their southern counterparts. No offense...no apologies.


Richdad

Alright.
.
.
For your professional website design. Check my signature.

Na wa oh.

OP, Is it Esther Asabe Karatu or Elizabeth Asabe Karatu?

Pls let me know as i'm attending Mountain of Fire on Friday night, I can direct my prayer accordingly.

Thank you.

I can only imagine if it was the other way round, MURIC and the rest would have been screaming senselessly. I am not trying to bring tribal or religions debate but i understand the shit this governor is trying to do.

The Last thing that a muslim dominated state will do is to allow a Christian to head their judiciary, CJN Onneghen palava is a case study for a religious bigot like Buhari.

If you av stay in kebbi before you will understand what she is saying, all the churches on the same street,that place is terrible.North and Islam are curse to this country.curse on lugard and his collaborator's grave

if its true, this is not fair
the governor should remedy the situation ASAP
to forestall the laying of bad precedence

hmm all is well

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Juliusmalema:
Politics of religion has killed this shiithole

and someone say Nigeria will be like China in 3030.

No be only 3030, the year 100100 nko?

Richdad50:


This is weighty and a condemnation of a faulty system. It is no news the suppression of religious minorities in the North. It is deep rooted.

Northern Nigeria have an identity problem. A problem passion on to them by their founding fathers telling in specifics the superiority of their tribe and religion above all others. I understand when a parent wants to beat out the inferiority of his/her child especially when they identify the severe disparities when compared with others. They often take it too far. That I understand and have clearly observed why their founding fathers sold the idea of superiority to them. They knew they fell short when put by side with their southern counterparts. No offense...no apologies.


Richdad

In the southeast where there's no suppression, how many Muslims have been (s)elected to hold office

jamesversion:
OP, Is it Esther Asabe Karatu or Elizabeth Asabe Karatu?

Pls let me know as i'm attending Mountain of Fire on Friday night, I can direct my prayer accordingly.

Thank you.

Esther Sir?

Fire accordingly Sir...

For the fact they didn't even allow her swear the governor in confirms that it's a religious war against her.

For those that still have faith in the country, each passing day, the citizens keep proving you guys wrong

Islamic jihadists in the north will rather die than allow a christian to be a chief judge.

People that will not even allow a Yoruba imam lead prayers in their mosques

Splashme:
Na wao...
Religious intolerance in the North is something else

And you will think they are holy ... na big lie!
Same of same - Christians or Muslims

They display bibles in offices, others wash legs wash hands and pray five times a day.

They get to office to strategise how to defraud public funds and lodge in big hotels with small girls

Well said. If nigeria and Nigerians dont kill religion, it will kill the country and its residents

GMB did d same thing to onnogohen so d gov is following GMB's example. islamist use decoy to project theIr belief

The world is passing away including Nigeria.

We are in the end times.

The god of this world knows that his time is coming to an end very soon.

His agents and agencies will be very active deceiving, stealing, killing and destroying.

Shine your eyes!

The human situation will continue to get worse and worse till Jesus returns.

Begin to give PERSONAL attention to JESUS.

Both the oppressor and the oppressed are mere mortals. The important thing is know Jesus, come to Him, live for Him and serve Him.

In summary: BE LIKE HIM so that when He returns whether you're dead or alive, you will be with Him forever.

Esther or Elizabeth, poor journalism

Nobody is even talking about the corruption case of the osibanjos that the lady refused to help eliminate in court, which was one of the allegations levelled against her... that she's an enemy of the regime because she didn't help the osibanjos.. and the NJC sat and was listening to that allegation made by a fellow colleague...

Is the judiciary supposed to be politically affiliated?

This is Islamic republic of Nigeria, she should accept her fate

ntyce:



In the southeast where there's no suppression, how many Muslims have been (s)elected to hold office

how many southeast Muslim judge do u know
if u can't identify atleast 2
then gararahia mehn

Drshobz:


how many southeast Muslim judge do u know
if u can't identify atleast 2
then gararahia mehn

There is no lie these liars will come up with. It is sad that anyone would be discriminated against on religion, there is a greater tendancy that the woman is speaking the truth about what she is facing likely the Ambrusa guy is eying her position and is using dirty tricks to achieve his ambition.

Juliusmalema:
Politics of religion has killed this shiithole

and someone say Nigeria will be like China in 3030.

You marginalized and suppress your most talented region and you wanna be like China? How na? Some fools would think I am Igbo.

Bambambiglo:
Islamic jihadists in the north will rather die than allow a christian to be a chief judge.

People that will not even allow a Yoruba imam lead prayers in their mosques

Do Yorubas allow Northern mallams to lead in their mosques?