From Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Benue State All Progressives Congress, APC, Elders Forum has thrown its weight behind the state House of Assembly’s recommendation which removed the chief judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese.
The Assembly had accused the chief judge of abuse of office by issuing a directive to overturn the Assembly’s electoral law which was assented to by the governor, misappropriation and mismanagement of budgetary allocation and finances of the state judiciary, engaging with politicians and political office holders for favourable judicial outcomes and act of corruption, among others.
Speaking at a press conference at the weekend in Makurdi, chairman of the elders forum, Senator Barnabas Gemade said after thorough review of the circumstances surrounding the chief judge’s removal, it became clear to the forum that the Benue Assembly acted within the constitutional framework outlined in section 292(1)a(11) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“We stand in solidarity with the Assembly on this decision, especially given the serious allegations that necessitated such action including mismanagement of the sum of N660,984,687,20k in less than one year in office” Gemade affirmed.
He said the forum had also expressed solidarity with the Assembly over the chief judge’s manifest abuse of office by acting outside the scope of his work, pointing out that this was evident in the manner he granted waiver of section 76 of the Benue State Electoral law duly passed by the Assembly and assented to by the governor.
Senator Gemade maintained that the elders equally passed vote of confidence on the Hyacinth Alia-led government for working tirelessly to improve the lives of Benue citizens.
