From Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Benue State House of Assembly yesterday resolved to approach the Supreme Court for clarification on Section 292 (1) A (11) of the Constitution, which pertains to the removal of a Chief Judge, CJ.
The resolution was made during plenary yesterday presided over by Speaker Aondona Dajoh.
The move followed a motion by the Majority Leader, Saater Tiseer, who informed the House that despite securing a two-third majority to recommend the removal of the Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, the Assembly has faced criticism from various quarters, including the Senate, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and the National Judicial Council, NJC.
Tiseer noted that the House of Representatives recently passed a bill granting the NJC a role in the removal of a chief judge, which he believed vindicated the Assembly’s actions.
He, howwever, emphasized that the NJC currently has no role in the removal of the chief judge as stated in Section 292 (1) a (11) of the Constitution [1).
To resolve the controversy, the House agreed to seek the Supreme Court’s interpretation on the matter.
In a similar development, the House summoned several individuals and organisations to appear before it, including: director-general, Public Procurement, Commissioner for Finance, Attorney-General of the State, and Monimichelle Sports Facility Construction Limited to explain why the contract for the renovation of Aper Aku Stadium has been abandoned.
The House also summoned the Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment and Special Adviser, Local Government Market Coordination and Monitoring to address the issue of saboteurs imposing indiscriminate levies on Benue farmers and buyers, while the leadership of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Benue State branch will explain the prolonged strike that has paralysed the judicial system.
The lawmakers equally urged the Managing Director, Benue State Agricultural Development Company, Mr Donald Kule to account for the over N1 billion released to his agency to purchase assorted grains from farmers.
