Following the bill before the House of Representative to give roles to National Judicial Council, the Benue State House of Assembly at the plenary on Friday has decided to proceed to the Supreme Court to seek interpretation to its recommendation for the removal of the state Chief Judge.

It will be recalled that Benue State Assembly had on February, 18, 2025 passed a recommendation for the removal of the State Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese.

The assembly claimed to have received a complaint from the Hon. Attorney General of the State, detailing allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, bribery and corruption and other sundry allegations.

The house recommendations however was greeted with condemnation from different quarters including the Senate, the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and the National Judicial Council ( NJC).

At the Friday plenary, Benue State House of Assembly passed a resolution to approach the apex court of Nigeria for the interpretation of section 292 ( 1) A (11) as it pertains to the removal of a Chief judge.

The House took the decision during a Plenary presided by the Speaker Chief Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh.

Majority Leader of the House, Saater Tiseer, had in a motion informed the house that after the house secured a two-third majority on the 18th, February 2025, in support of the recommendation to remove Justice Maurice Ikpambese, the Chief Judge of Benue State.

But regretted that the house recommendation received condemnation from different quarters including the Senate, the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and the National Judicial Council ( NJC).

The majority leader further explained that after the tongue ? lashing of the Benue State House of Assembly, the House of Representatives, on Wednesday 26th March, 2025 passed for a second Reading, ?a bill to give the National Judicial Council a role in the removal of a Chief judge?.

He submitted that with such bill before the House of Representative, it means that NJC has no role in the removal of the state Chief Judge, adding that Benue State House of Assembly had been vindicated.

According to Majority leader, ?The bill by the National Assembly means that the NJC currently has no role in the removal of the Chief Judge as clearly stated In section 292 (1) a (11) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.?

The House agreed to approach the apex court immediately for proper interpretation of the section of the constitution empowering it to recommend the removal of the Chief Judge to further put to rest the controversies surrounding its action. (Nigerian Tribune)

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