March 28, (THEWILL) – The Benue State House of Assembly has resolved to seek the Supreme Court’s interpretation of Section 292(1)(a)(ii) of the 1999 Constitution regarding the removal of a Chief Judge.
The decision was reached during plenary on Friday, presided over by Speaker Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh, following a motion of urgent public importance moved by Majority Leader, Comrade Saater Tiseer.
Tiseer noted that on February 18, 2025, the House secured a two-thirds majority vote to approve the removal of Justice Maurice Ikpambese as Chief Judge of Benue State. This followed a petition by the Attorney General of the state, alleging gross misconduct, abuse of office, bribery, and corruption.
However, the House faced widespread condemnation from several quarters, including the Senate, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and the National Judicial Council (NJC).
Tiseer further pointed out that the House of Representatives, on March 26, 2025, passed a bill for second reading seeking to grant the NJC a formal role in the removal of a Chief Judge, a move that, according to him, validates the Assembly’s stance that the NJC currently has no such role as prescribed by the constitution.
To put lingering controversies to rest, the House resolved to approach the Supreme Court for an authoritative interpretation of its constitutional powers in the removal process.
Meanwhile, the Assembly condemned the activities of a group operating under the name “Benue Sacks,” accusing them of imposing arbitrary levies on farmers and traders, thereby worsening economic hardship in the state.
It consequently summoned the Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, alongside the Special Adviser on Local Government Market Coordination and Monitoring, to appear before the House on April 2, 2025. It also ordered an immediate withdrawal of individuals enforcing these levies and directed security agencies to arrest those involved.
In another development, the House summoned the leadership of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Benue State Branch, to appear before its leadership on April 3, 2025, to explain the prolonged strike that has crippled judicial activities in the state.
Additionally, the Managing Director of the Benue State Agricultural Development Company, Mr. Donald Aorkwagh Kule, was summoned to account for over ₦1 billion reportedly disbursed for the procurement of assorted grains from Benue farmers.
During the plenary, the House received reports from the Standing Committee on Industry, Trade, and Investment on the Makurdi Modern Market and the Ultra-Modern International Market. The report was presented by the committee’s chairman, Hon. Moses Egbodo.
Similarly, the Standing Committee on Education submitted a report on its oversight visit to Area Education Offices, Local Government Education Authorities, government-owned and grant-aided secondary schools, and Universal Basic Education Schools across the three senatorial districts. The report was presented by the Minority Whip, Hon. Cephas Dyako.
Speaker Dajoh referred both reports to the Rules and Business Committee for further legislative action.
