Amid his contentious suspension by the House of Assembly, the Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, has vowed to remain in office until the expiration of his tenure. He addressed the people in Tiv at the burial of his mother-in-law over the weekend.

The CJ claimed that he was being persecuted because he allegedly refused to support the composition of the local government tribunals raised to adjudicate on the council polls held last year.

Ikpambese said as the Chief Judge, it was his responsibility to assign cases. His words: ?I don?t want to speak about this, but my sin is refusal to accept the people imposed on me to handle the local government council election petitions.

?As the Chief Judge, the law has given me the responsibility to assign judges to cases. So, the Benue state government tried to influence my decision, but I turned them down. When I want to assign cases, I first pray. I don?t just do it.

?They are using our commonwealth to bribe people to remove me, but let them continue their madness. I will remain the Chief Judge until the expiration of my tenure.?

REACTING, Speaker of the House, Aondona Dajoh, told The Guardian that Justice Ikpambese?s public utterances were inflammatory and unbefitting of a man of his status.

Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Zamber, yesterday in Makurdi, the Speaker wondered how the CJ knew that the state government would not be comfortable with his choice of tribunal membership when he had not yet made them.

?That means the allegations of partisanship against him are correct then. His statements are now a confirmation,? he said. (The Guardian)