YLF Calabar Branch Calls On Cross River Legislators To Confirm Hon Ikpeme As Substantive CJ

The Young Lawyers Forum, Calabar branch has called on the Cross River State House of Assembly to follow the law and confirm Hon. Justice Akon Ikpeme as the substantive Chief Judge of the State.

This call was made in a press statement signed by the Chairman, Ini-Obong O. Offiong, and the Secretary, Ofiong O. Offion, which was made available to TNL.

According to the branch, this was necessary as to prevent further chaos and anarchy in the Judiciary of Cross River State.

Below read the full press statement

The Executive Committee and Members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Young Lawyers Forum, Calabar Branch at its General Meeting, held on the 28th day of February 2020 reviewed the unfortunate incidence surrounding the confirmation of Hon. Justice Akon Bassey Ikpeme (the Acting Chief Judge) as the substantive Chief Judge of Cross River State.
The Forum has keenly followed the sequence of events surrounding the confirmation and has observed the following:
1. That Hon. Justice Akon Bassey Ikpeme’s tenure as the Acting Chief Judge of Cross River State statutorily expires on the 2nd day of March 2020, except re-appointed upon the recommendation of the National Judicial Council pursuant to Section 271(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

2. That His Excellency, the Governor of Cross River State, Prof. (Barr.) Benedict Ayade, KSJI in compliance with Section 271(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) forwarded a letter timeously to the Cross River State House of Assembly for the confirmation of Hon. Justice Akon Bassey Ikpeme as the substantive Chief Judge of Cross River State.

3. That the screening and confirmation exercise was deliberately kept in abeyance, until the 26th day of February 2020 when the members of the Cross River State House of Assembly representing Calabar Municipality and Bakassi State Constituency, Hon. Efa Esua and Hon. Ekpo Ekpo Bassey presented the matter before the House for deliberation, and same was referred to the House Committee on Judiciary, Public Petition, Public Service Matters and Conflict Resolution for further action, which screening was conducted on the 27th day of the February 2020.  
4. That on the 28th day of February 2020, the Cross River State House of Assembly, knowing consciously that the tenure of the Acting Chief Judge of Cross River State statutorily elapses on the 2nd day of March 2020, ignored the urgency the confirmation requires and announced the suspension of the day’s plenary through the Chairman House Committee on Information.
Our Position is as follows:
A. That as young lawyers practicing in Calabar, Cross River State, we wish to bring to the knowledge of the general public, that the issue of indigeneship of Hon. Justice Akon B. Ikpeme which has been in the centre of the deliberate delay of her confirmation has been settled by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). Again, taking cognizance of the fact that she is married to Dr. Bassey Ikpeme who is an indigene of Eniong Abatim, in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, which makes My Lord an indigene of Cross River State as well.

B. That Hon. Justice Akon Ikpeme has met all constitutional requirements by virtue of which her recommendation by the National Judicial Council was predicated on, and there is nothing left to fetter the discretion of the Cross River State House of Assembly except on ethnic, tribal and gender sentiments and colorations which has no place in our laws.

C. That Hon. Justice Akon Ikpeme has invested a good number of years in the service of Cross River State, through the Cross River State Ministry of Justice before being elevated into the Bench as a Judge of the High Court of Cross River State.

D. That having complied with the recommendations by the National Judicial Council and appointment by His Excellency, Prof. (Barr.) Benedict Ayade, KSJI pursuant to the provisions of Section 271(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Cross River House of Assembly is as a matter of urgency required to perform the duty of confirming Hon. Justice Akon Ikpeme.

E. We therefore request and demand that the Cross River State House of Assembly follow the law and confirm Hon. Justice Akon Ikpeme as the substantive Chief Judge of the Cross River State to prevent further chaos and anarchy in the judiciary of Cross River State.
DATED this 28th day of February, 2020.

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OFFIONG O. OFFIONG, ESQ. INI-OBONG UDOH, ESQ.
CHAIRMAN SECRETARY