Alleged Removal From Office: Benue Chief Judge, Ikpambese, Breaks Silence 

MAKURDI – The Chief Judge (CJ) of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, has finally broken the silence over his alleged removal from office as the Chief Judge of the state by the Benue State House of Assembly (BNHA). 

The CJ, who also alleged that an assassination attempt was made on his life, also linked his alleged removal from office to his refusal to assign certain Judges to sit on the election petitions tribunal for the local government elections. 

However, one of the reasons cited by the Benue State government for calling for the removal of Justice Ikpambese was that he allegedly waived the mandatory deposit of security for cost by petitioners as provided for in Section 76 of the Benue State Electoral law. 

While Ikpambese insisted that he remain the Chief Judge of the state, he insisted that he would serve in that capacity for as long as God permits. 

The CJ, who spoke in the Tiv dialect at a funeral ceremony in the state, said, “All these talks you hear making the rounds, some people will think that there are issues, there are no issues at all. When you stand on the truth, there are bound to be challenges. 

“I don’t want to talk about it, but some people do not know, hence the need to open up. There is pressure on me just as I’ve been pressurized to speak on this issue. 

“But when I was pressured that certain Judges should be picked to sit on cases in the Local Government elections tribunal, I said no! That’s the only problem I have. I didn’t do anything wrong. 

“But the law says that I should be the one that should do the job (of selecting Judges that will sit on those cases), and before I embark on the job, I pray about it. I screen those to sit on the cases to ensure that those who are qualified are given the job. 

“So when I picked the Judges, I don’t know what happened; even as we are yet to conclude on the cases, things have taken a different turn. 

“As I speak to you, they have heaped sand in front of my Court that I will not go in, and the other day, they attempted to kill me in my office, but God delivered me. 

“But I want to tell you that even in Abuja, where I am answerable to (probably referring to NJC), they were told that they are not aware of what they are doing. 

“The money they sent for our development is the same money they are using against us. Our brothers are not content; people are hungry, and when people are hungry, sometimes they do things they shouldn’t have done. 

“I want to appeal to you that your mind should be at rest, and by the grace of God, nothing will happen; no matter what happens, I will remain the chief judge for as long as God permits.