The Benue State House of Assembly has criticized the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for its stance on the recommended removal of Chief Judge Justice Maurice Ikpambese.
According to Majority Leader Santer Sateer, the NBA failed to consider constitutional provisions before condemning the Assembly’s decision.
Sateer emphasized that the House acted within its constitutional powers under Section 292(1)(a)(ii) of the 1999 Constitution. This section empowers a state assembly to recommend the removal of a Chief Judge, Grand Kadi of a Sharia Court of Appeal, or President of a Customary Court of Appeal by the Governor, with a two-thirds majority support from the House of Assembly.
The Majority Leader clarified that the House did not recommend Justice Ikpambese’s removal as a judicial officer, but rather as the Chief Judge of Benue State, in accordance with the law. He also noted that the matter of removing Justice Ikpambese as a judge would be referred to the National Judicial Council (NJC), as required by law.
The NBA had in a statement issued earlier, criticized the resolution by the Benue State House of Assembly, directing Governor Hyacinth Alia to remove Ikpambese as the state Chief Judge.