The Benue State House of Assembly has recommended the suspension of the state’s Chief Judge, Maurice Ikpambese, over alleged abuse of office and gross misconduct.
The resolution came after Governor Hyacinth Alia sent a letter to the assembly detailing five allegations against Ikpambese.
The letter was read on Tuesday by House Majority Leader Saater Tiseer.
According to the letter, the Chief Judge is accused of abuse of office by issuing a directive that overturned the Benue State Electoral Law, which was passed by the assembly and assented to by the governor, as well as alleged isappropriation and mismanagement of the judiciary’s budgetary allocation.
Others include engagement with politicians to influence judicial outcomes, indirect participation and incitement of industrial actions against the state executive., acts of bribery, corruption, and favoritism, allegedly placing cronies in unmerited positions.
During deliberations, Peter Ipusu, the Chief Whip of the house, criticized the CJ for tampering with the state’s electoral law. Becky Opin, representing Gboko East, then moved a motion to put the matter to a vote.
Twenty three out of thirty one lawmakers voted in favor of Ikpambese’s suspension.
Speaker of the House, Hyacinth Dajoh, directed the immediate swearing-in of the next-in-line judicial officer as acting chief judge.
Dajoh also announced that the assembly would forward the complaint to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for an independent investigation into the allegations.
