The war of words between the Chief Judge of Benue state, Justice Maurice Ikpambese and governor Hyacinth Alia escalated Monday morning as the governor challenged the chief judge to address allegations of corruption levelled against him rather than resorting to blackmail.
In a statement issued on Monday morning, the chief Press Secretary to the governor of Benue state, Tersoo Kulas said as far as the Benue state government is concerned, Justice Ikpambese has been “disposed of” and the state was only waiting for the nailing of his coffin by the national Judicial Council.
The Chief Press Secretary’s statement was in response to Justice Ikpambese’s accusation on Sunday that the governor wanted him out of office because he failed to appoint the gover nor’s preferred justices as members of the Local government Election tribuna.
The governor’s spokesman’s statement reads: “We watch (sic) with utmost disappointment a viral video on Social Media wherein the embattled Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpambase tried unsuccessfully to divert the attention of unsuspecting worshipers and by extension, the people of the State from the grievous allegations leveled against him necessitating the Benue State House of Assembly to pass a resolution allowing Governor, Hyacinth Alia to remove him as the Chief Judge.
“Though it is very curious for a Judicial Officer of his standing to take to the gallery to publicly peddle falsehood and implore the use of blackmail against the administration of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia in defense of the recent action by the Benue State House of Assembly, the fact that Justice Ikpambase chose to speak publicly on the matter speaks volumes of the kind of Judicial Officer that he is.
“Ikpambese went further in that video to expose himself when he stated that he actually selected Justices that will be difficult for “them”. Wow!! This is indeed a confession, as the saying goes; “…from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh”
“Granted that Justice Ikpambase is entitled to express himself freely, it is baffling that instead of speaking to the very weighty allegations of misappropriation and mismanagement of the Budgetary Allocation and Finances of the Benue State Judiciary to the tune of over Six Hundred Million Naira, Abuse of office by issuing a directive to overturn the Benue State Electoral Law passed by the Benue State House of Assembly and assented to by the Governor of the State and engagement with politicians and political office holders for favorable judicial outcomes, he went on the loose to mislead, misinform and deceive his listeners to weep (sic) up cheap sympathy.
“Justice Ikpambase, instead of attempting to clear his name on the allegations of undue favoritism and dire insistence on cronies holding unmerited positions in the Judiciary, indirect participation, and incitement of the industrial actions against the State executive and acts of bribery and corruption, Justice Ikpambase misfired by taking to blame his present ordeal on the Constitution of the Local Government Councils Elections Tribunal.
“It is gratifying to know that no matter the lies and misinformation he puts out as self-defense, no right-thinking individual will hold him seriously if he cannot take the path of honor and speak to the issues raised against him that were supported by over Two-Thirds of members of the Benue State House of Assembly during one of their plenary sessions recently.
“The Benue State government is still strong in the opinion that the State Lawmakers acted in the overall interest of the State and in line with Section 292(1)(a) (ii) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which provides that a Chief Judge may only be disposed of by the Governor, acting on an address supported by two-thirds of the House of Assembly.
“Ikpambese is already disposed of as the Chief Judge of Benue state. His alleged sins and malfeasances have since been forwarded to NJC for adjudication and discipline as enshrined in Section 153(1)(i) of the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“We advise the embattled Judge to gather his facts and prepare to defend himself at the National Judicial Commission (sic) rather than attending public functions to misinform the people, as doing so may worsen his already battered image and .further expose him and indeed the revered office he hitherto held to public ridicule”
