Cross River Without Chief Judge For 4 Days, As NBA Calabar, Ikom & Ogoja Branches Express Worries Over Vacuum

The Judiciary of the Cross Rivers State has been without Chief Judge for the past few days, as the tenure of the then Acting Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Maurice Eneji has constitutionally elapsed on the 3rd day of September 2020 having served the last second term acting constitutional tenure of three months prescribed.

TheNigerialawyer (TNL), recalls that twice the NJC had recommended that the Cross River State government and the State House of Assembly should confirm and swear in Justice Akon Ikpeme as the substantive Chief Judge of the state given the fact that she is the most senior Judge in the state.

This has generated several divided opinions across quarters, some suggesting that the State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade has influenced her non-confirmation, in order to make the next most senior State High Court Judge, Hon. Justice Eneji to become the Chief Judge.

Besides, opinions have it that he has refused to be confirmed as the Chief Judge on the premise that she did not hail from Cross Rivers State. This is because her parents hailed from Akwa Ibom but she has been in the service of Cross Rivers State for quite some time. she served as the Director of Public Prosecution in the State Ministry of Justice before she became a Judge.

In addition, she was accused of being neglect in the discharge of her duties when she served as an Acting Chief Judge.

However, the Nigerian Bar Association Branches of Calabar, Ikom & Ogoja have expressed their dissatisfaction with the current development.

In a statement by the Chairmen of these NBA Branches said this development would not augur well in the Nigerian Legal Profession.

Besides, they noted that creating a vacuum in a very paramount arm of Government, Judiciary will not be condoned with levity.

Thus, the Branches called on Governor Ben Ayade, National Judicial Council (NJC), and the State House of Assembly to as a matter of urgency fill the existing vacuum.