By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Benue State House of Assembly, on Wednesday, February 19,2025 slammed a three-month suspension order on 13 members who have dissociated themselves from the purported suspension of the State’s Chief Judge.
The Source reports that the legislators had on Tuesday, February 18,2025 voted to suspend the Chief Judge , Justice Maurice Ikpambase, citing alleged abuse of power and office as major reasons.
But 13 out of the 32 House members, on same Tuesday publicly distanced themselves from the exercise which they described as unconstitutional, illegal ,null and void.
At a media briefing ,the dissenting members insisted that the suspension exercise did not meet constitutional requirements, and also grossly violated the fundamental principles of separation of powers.
“Out of a House of 32, members ,13 voted against the suspension ,while one member( Hon Peter Uche ,representing Guma I State Constituency was absent ,and the Speaker ,Hon Aondona Dajoh abstained from voting.
“So ,the exercise did not meet the required two thirds majority. Our position is that the purported suspension is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void”, the group of 13 stated.
Consequently they urged members of the public and the good people of Benue State to disregard the purported suspension order.
This was even as they reaffirmed their readiness and commitment towards upholding the rule of law and due process.
However ,at an emergency plenary on Wednesday, the House described the group of 13 action as utterly dishonourable, and capable of casting a huge shadow on the integrity of the Legislative body.
According to the Speaker, Rt Hon Dajoh, some of the members of the dissenting group, actually voted for the removal of the embattled Chief Judge.
He, therefore, questioned the real motives behind their recent posture.
“Some of the members after voting for the removal of the State Chief Judge, Maurice Ikpambase ,went back to address a press conference, denying voting in favour of the motion to remove the Chief Judge”, the Speaker lamented.
Speaking earlier, the House Majority Leader, Hon Saater Tiseer ,informed that the Lawmakers had earlier received a formal letter of complaint against the Chief Judge from the state’s Attorney General ,and Commissioner for Justice ,on allegations bordering on abuse of office, bribery ,corruption, and other issues .
” After exhaustive deliberations ,the House went into a division where 23 members of 31, present voted in support of the recommendation to remove the Chief Judge”, the Majority Leader stated .
According to Hon Tiseer, the 13 members, by recanting, after willingly voting to suspend the Chief Judge ,have contravened Order IX ,Rule 58(6) of the House Standing Rules .
He described the action of the 13 members as not only dishonourable, but a needles afterthought, as well as a deceptive posture capable of causing acrimony in the House.
The members of the group of 13 suspended include Hon.Douglas Akya, Jonathan Agbidye , Pastor Onah Blessed Emmanuel, Hon,Anyor Mato, and Elias Audu.
Others include Hon Manger Manger ,Solomon Gyila,Samuel Agada ,Abraham Jabi ,Ezra Nyiyongo ,Williams Ortyom and Hon Beckie Orpin.
Discover more from The Source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Legislative rascality. These thirteen members should be commended for following the rule of law. Is the Judiciary an arm of the Benue House of Assembly?. Ill educated fellows. The constitution as amended is very clear. Power show, the bane of development in this contraption called Nigeria. Shame to the 23 illiterate fellows.