Middle Belt Youth Forum Laments Lawmakers’ Removal Of Benue CJ

LAGOS – The All Middle Belt Youth Forum (AM­BYF) has said that the recent removal of the Benue State Chief Judge, Jus­tice Maurice Ikpambese, by the state House of Assembly has raised serious concerns about the separation of pow­ers and the respect for rule of law in the state.

Comrade Aluh Moses Odeh, the AMBYF National Leader, in a statement made available to Sunday Independent, said the allegations against Justice Ikpambese, including abuse of office, political interference, and financial misconduct, amounted to giving a dog a bad name to jus­tify its hanging.

It said the speed and manner in which the Assembly acted without following due process, in addition obtaining the rec­ommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC), was troubling.

The group stated: “This de­velopment is particularly worri­some given the earlier warning by HE. Amb. MS Adoli (MFR) that Benue State 10th Assembly might be used to destabilise the country, following the influx of thugs at the office of the Chief Judge to stop him from per­forming his duty on February 19, 2025, a day after his purported removal, confirmed Amb. Ado­li’s warning.

“The removal of the Chief Judge without following Con­stitutional requirements may be seen as an attempt to under­mine the independence of the judiciary.

“It is essential to recall the Supreme Court’s position on the removal of Chief Judges of States, as evident in the case of Justice Raliat Elelu-Habeeb, for­mer Chief Judge of Kwara State.

“The Supreme Court held that the governor, in addition, the House of Assembly cannot exercise disciplinary control over the Chief Judge without the recommendation of the NJC.

“The Chief Judge can seek legal redress over this develop­ment. In addition, it is crucial for the people of Benue State in addition to Nigeria as a whole to rise against any attempt to un­dermine the rule of law in addi­tion to the separation of powers.

“The Benue State 10th As­sembly must redeem its image by ensuring that due process is followed in all its actions.

“The suspension of the 13 State Assembly members for their blunt refusal to participate in the illegality despite offering a huge sum of money which they rejected to stand in defense of Democracy shows the despera­tion of the Benue State Govern­ment to perpetuate illegality must be stopped now before it consumes everybody.

“I commend the stance of the Nigerian Bar Association NBA in addition to the Nation­al Judicial Council NJC on this illegality recognising Jsc. Mau­rice Ikpambese as the authentic Chief Judge of the state is the best to sustain our democratic governance in Nigeria.

“The brouhaha may not be far from the imminent loss of their case in the Benue State High Court in November 2024, where Jsc. Kume gave a landmark judg­ment reinstating Comrade Austin Agada as the authen­tic Chairman of Benue State chapter of the ruling APC in addition declared that ac­tions taken by the Caretaker Committee loyal to the Gov­ernor illegal.”