Justice Akon Ikpeme has been confirmed as the substantive Chief Judge of Cross River State.

After 13 months without a substantive Chief Judge, the legislative arm made a volta face when they convened an emergency sitting on Thursday and confirmed Justice Akon Ikpeme as substantive Chief Judge following a letter with reference no SSG/S/300/VOL.XVIX/550 and dated January 20 transmitted to them from Governor Ayade.

In the letter signed by the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Tina Banku Agbor, the Governor sought for the confirmation of Justice Akon Ikpeme as substantive Chief Judge in line with the power conferred on him by Section 271(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

The House presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon Eteng William, in a unanimous yes-vote, confirmed Ikpeme after the motion moved by the Leader, Hon Peter Odey (Ogoja) and seconded by Whip, Hon Okon Ephraim (Calabar South 1).

SOURCE

The Ikpeme saga began with Governor Ben Ayade's
inauguration of the disputed Cross River State Judicial Service Commission in October 2019.

The Commission had on November 27 gone ahead to forward the names of Justice Ikpeme as the "President of the Customary Court of Appeal" and Justice Maurice Eneji (her immediate junior) as "Acting Chief Judge," a move the National Judicial Council (NJC) rebuffed.

Section 271(1) states: “The appointment of a person to the office of a chief judge of a state shall be made by the Governor of the state on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council subject to the confirmation by the House of Assembly of the state.”.............

Subsection 4: “If the office of the chief judge of a state is vacant or if the person holding the office is for any reason unable to perform the functions of the office, then, until a person has been appointed to and has assumed the functions of that office, or until the person holding the office has resumed those functions, the Governor of the State shall appoint the most Senior Judge of the High Court to perform those functions.”

Justice Ikpeme was sworn in on December 3 2019, as Acting Chief Judge for three months and although Governor Ayade sent her name to the CRSHA for confirmation as prescribed by law, he was believed to have engineered the refusal by the lawmakers.

CRSHA's refusal in Ikpeme's confirmation were hinged on the reason that she is originally from Akwa Ibom State by birth, and would “pose a security risk to Cross River State” should there be a conflict between both states. This led to a shutdown of all Courts in the State.

Following the rejection of Justice Ikpeme, Justice Eneji was
[url=https://www.google.com/amp/s/dailypost.ng/2020/03/03/gov-ayade-swears-in-actn-chief-judge-maurice-eneji-amidst-controversy/%3famp]sworn in [/url] as the Acting Chief Judge, which was later extended for an added three months.

With the NJC adamant on Justice Ikpeme as substantive Chief Judge, the situation forced Governor Ayade to swear in Justice Eyo Effiom Ita-as acting CJ on October 19, 2020 with the NJC rejecting an extension.

Cross River State has been without a Chief Judge or Acting Chief Judge since January 19, 2021.


Akon Ikpeme joined the State Judiciary in 1982 and is married to Bassey Ikpeme from Odukpani LGA of Cross River State

How can cross river governor assembly bow to NJC

OK.... We move!










I still sell affordable laptops with free delivery and pay on delivery.

Details on my signature.

If a married woman doesn't belong to her husband's people (especially after donkey years and birthing children) then I wonder where she belongs or the essence of her marriage or the collection of her bride price or her being "given" up to her husband's people in the first instance. Nigeria is not just made up of confused peoples, we are a dubious specie. We play annoyingly childish politics Congratulations Milady.

We move

Bravo!!

Congratulations to you.

Hope we won't have a reason to regret congratulating you.

Africa one of the most ethnic diverse continents

Ethnicity has always played a major part of our politics, and National security

I laugh when some people feel regionalism might solve Nigerian's problem, even when it's evident between states and local government there is power tussles here and there

Will Rivers State, Akwa Ibom, Calabar under leaders like Wike , Akpabio, Udom and Ameachi agree to join old Eastern Region to be controlled by Ibos in Enugu ever again

Will Osun, Ogun or Lagos State accept authority from seat of Western region power Oyo State, after tasting power of full Autonomy


.

I hope Buhari learns from this, nepotism leads to setback.
Kebbi state also has refused to confirm their Ag CJ because she is a woman and Christian, Kebbi state ended up exposing a hidden fact that indigenous Christians makes up a large percentage of the population but under Fulani political subjugation. This is where part of the confidence of ESN emanates from by realising that even if a war breaks out in Nigeria Fulani will have no tribe to fight for them like in 1967, most tribes will rather see it as opportunity to take back the leadership of their land. Imagine how a Fulani is the Etsu Nupe, the original ethnic Etsu Nupe was banished to Pategi and made a third class chief

At last. This life takes patience, where you're destined to reach in life no one can stop you unless God remove hand for your matter. Just as I'm destined to be a big super mega star.

XPOL IS HERE AGAIN

Cross River state like to apply politics at everything, yet unable to move their state forward.

Delayed....not denied

Shameless people. Must they always add sentiment in public matters?

Finally! Congratulations to her. If we allow our institutions work, there will be hope but when those institutions are manned or populated with chronic idiots, it can be tough!

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE

settled then!

Ok

Xpol:
At last. The life takes patience, where you're destined to reach in life no one can stop you unless God remove hand for your matter. Just as I'm destined to be a big super mega star.

XPOL IS HERE AGAIN

you say it all

a big round of applause...

They fought a good fight and won.

The governor should know that Nigeria is not banana republic.

Lol cross river blinked first. I thought they'd play the game till their terms ended. Congrats to her.

wiseone28:
Good news to Akwa ibom daughter


We always rule Cross river.

Akpan iko ke ado....



2023,come early for The efiks,....and Akwa ibom will continue to have input in the affair of cross river

solmusdesigns:





Africa one of the most ethnic diverse continents

Ethnicity has always played a major part of our politics, and National security

I laugh when some people feel regionalism might solve Nigerian's problem, even when it's evident between states and local government there is power tussles here and there

Will Rivers State, Akwa Ibom, Calabar under leaders like Wike , Akpabio, Udom and Ameachi agree to join old Eastern Region to be controlled by Ibos in Enugu ever again

Will Osun, Ogun or Lagos State accept authority from seat of Western region power Oyo State, after tasting power of full Autonomy


.

Brilliant Assertions, nailed on point.

A lot of these things are already addressed in relevant laws and acts. I just see this as a case of vested interests.

I really applaud the NJC for the work they're doing, a lot of injustice is being done by state JSCs - right from nomination to appointment of judges.

tribalism and regionalism in Nigeria might just be a bigger problem that we anticipated. if you go to almost all the state of the federation you will find ethnicity and tribalism at play. good case studies are states like benue and kogi state.

Anangs and ibibios rule the efiks.. im so sorry for dis enslavement.. akwa ibom ado great

Anangs and ibibios rule the efiks.. im so sorry for dis enslavement.. akwa ibom ado great.o

wiseone28:
Good news to Akwa ibom daughter


We always rule Cross river.

This is why her confirmation was delayed.dont worry,the next governor will do worse than ayade