Clerics defend Ikpeme, ask NJC to reject Eneji

A Christian group, the Concerned Gospel Ministers in Cross River State, has called on the National Judicial Commission not to recognise Justice Maurice Eneji as the Chief Judge of the state.

The call followed controversies that have trailed the rejection of Justice Akon Ikpeme by the Cross River State House of Assembly as substantive Chief Judge of the state.

The ministers said it was unjust for the state assembly to reject Justice Ikpeme’s confirmation and insisted that the judiciary in the state should not be run on the basis of injustice.

In a statement jointly signed by Arch Bishop Archibong Archibong and Rev. Okoi Okoi, Chairman and Secretary respectively, they alleged that delaying Justice Ikpeme’s confirmation hearing till the last day and ultimately rejecting her confirmation was deliberately done to install injustice.

“We submit that since the reasons given by the house for Justice Ikpeme’s rejection were not cogent, the state government should withdraw the appointment of Justice Maurice Eneji as acting Chief Judge and swear in Justice Akon Ikpeme in the spirit of fairness, justice and humanity which His Excellency, Governor Ben Ayade advocates.

“That the National Judicial Council should not, as a matter of principle, justice and morality recognise Justice Maurice Eneji as Chief Judge of Cross River State either as acting or substantive, and should take steps to restore peace to Cross River judiciary and belief in our judicial officers as a bastion of hope,” the forum submitted.

They called for the reversal of Justice Ikpeme’s rejection because “it has tacitly injected venom, fear, hate, distrust and uncertainty into the women married to Cross Riverians. This alone has threatened the fabric of marital relationship and could lead to broken homes.”