Calabar: Ayade, Lawmakers Under Attack Over Judge

By Tosin Olatokunbo

Gender activists, human rights groups and other well meaning individuals are asking when it has become a crime for a woman to marry from another state.

The question became necessary after the Cross Rivers state house of assembly refused to confirm Justice Akon Ikpeme as substantive chief judge of the state over her ancestry.

Justice Ikpeme is from Akwa Ibom state, married to a Cross Rivers’ husband.

She has been in acting capacity until Governor Ben Ayade forwarded her name to the assembly for confirmation as the state’s chief judge.

But the male-dominated assembly has simply done the opposite- rejecting her nomination and probably telling her to go back to her state if she wants to attain the peak of her career as a judge.

Her nomination was rejected on Monday by the assembly, through a voice vote, even though she has been cleared by the house committee on Judiciary led by Efah Esua.

The majority of the committee members have endorsed her nomination, except Godwin Akwaji, representing Obudu state constituency alongside five others who wrote a parallel report recommending her to be rejected on the basis that her parents were not from the state.

Governor Ayade is from Kakum, Obudu where the stiffest antagonism against Justice Ikpeme is coming from.

Both Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers are controlled by the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP.

The magazine was told that the relationship between the two sisters states could be strained is not resolved in favour of the judge.

There are however no indication that the governor is part of a group in the state opposing the confirmation of Justice Ikpeme.

“No one can really say what’s responsible for this. We are aware that the governor has performed her constitutional obligation by nominating her for the post. But is should not end there. He should lobby the lawmakers in making sure that she’s confirmed. If not, the governor would be regarded as one of those opposing her,” James Akan, a public analyst in Lagos said.

He said human rights activists particularly those dealing with gender equality must rise up for Justice Ikpeme to ensure that she’s not punished by the reason of her marriage.

“If this is allowed to pass, most women will no longer want to marry people from other states and this could affect the unity that our forefathers have rigorously pursued over the year,” he said.

Some lawmakers have rising to the occasion, in defence of the judge.

Jane Adedeji, another public critic told the magazine that the assembly is setting a bad precedent that could backfire.

“Apart from the fact that other states may do the same, we could face a situation where women working in their husband states will be made to go through discrimination as a result of their marriage choice,” she said.

But some lawmakers in the assembly rose in defence of Justice Ikpeme on Monday, when the matter was deliberated at plenary.

For instance, Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, member representing Bakassi, had cautioned the House about politicizing the issue.

He warned his colleagues against setting a bad precedence.

Bassey said “This is my fifth year in the House and I have never seen two reports by a committee being presented to the House. The House has to be on the side of justice at all times and avoid setting a bad precedence.

“We need to strengthen institutions and avoid sowing seeds of ethnicity and disunity in the House.”

Also speaking, Itam Abang from Boki state constituency said never in the history of the House had two reports been presented.

She stated that Justice Ikpeme deserved the position having served the state for many years.

“Never in the history of the House have we had two reports. It’s very sad that in the 21st century we are whipping up ethnic sentiments. It’s wrong to whip up ethnic sentiments because we have children and don’t know where they will be married.

“She gave the state her productive years and rejecting her on account of her origin is injustice of the highest order,” Abang said.

Governor Ayade is from KakumObudu where the antagonistic lawmaker Akwaji hails from.

However in a parallel report, Godwin Akwaji, representing Obudu state constituency alongside five others, recommended that Akon be rejected because she is not from Cross River.