Benue Assembly Approves Chief Judge’s Removal Amid Allegations of Misconduct
The Benue State House of Assembly has passed a resolution authorizing Governor Hyacinth Alia to remove the Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambwese, from office.
The decision was reached during a plenary session on Tuesday, presided over by Speaker Hyacinth Dajoh. Out of the 31 lawmakers, 23 voted in favour of Justice Ikpambwese’s removal, citing allegations of misconduct and financial misappropriation.
The accusations were outlined in a report presented by the House Majority Leader, Saater Tiseer, which formed the basis for the Assembly’s resolution. However, sources indicate that Justice Ikpambwese was not given an opportunity to respond to the allegations before the House took its decision.
The move comes amid reports of a strained relationship between the Chief Judge and the state government, further fueling speculation about the motivations behind the resolution.
It remains to be seen whether Governor Alia will act on the Assembly’s directive, as legal and judicial stakeholders monitor the unfolding situation.
