By Admin
The Senate has urged the National Judicial Council, NJC, to take proactive steps to resolve the removal of Benue Chief Judge Justice Maurice Ikpambese, in line with Constitutional provisions.
It also urged its Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights to investigate the matter and report back to senate in two weeks.
The Senate resolutions followed adoption of a motion at plenary titled “looming Constitutional Crisis in Benue State” sponsored by Senator Abba Moro and two other senators from Benue State.
Senator Moro, who moved his motion under matters of urgent national importance said the National Assembly amongst other things, has the responsibility as the highest law-making body in Nigeria to protect and preserve the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He said it was the responsibility of the National Assembly to ensure compliance, prevent violations, while ensuring the constitution remains the supreme law of the land.
He said there was a looming constitutional crisis at present in Benue state saying, if not nip in the bud may spring to become a threat to democracy and rule of law in the entire country.
He said the crisis stems from the removal of Justice Maurice Ikpambese,the Chief Judge of the state by the State House of Assembly without having recourse to the tenets of the law.
He said that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, states explicitly in Section 153 and 271 that the National Judicial Council is the only body that authorises the appointment and removal of state chief judges.
Senator Moro said the constitution provides for step-by-step procedure for the removal of the State Chief Judges.
President of Senate, Godswill Akpabio in his remarks commended he minority leader describing his approach to the motion as not partisan
Senator Akpabio said it was his believe that the resolutions of the senate backing the NJC and his committee to resolve the matter in national interest
Cov/BABS
