The Benue State House of Assembly has decided to approach the Supreme Court for an interpretation of Section 292 (1) A (ii) of the Nigerian Constitution regarding the process for removing a Chief Judge.
During Friday’s plenary session, the House Majority Leader, Saater Tiseer, defended the Assembly’s decision to secure a two-thirds majority vote for the removal of Chief Judge Justice Maurice Ikpambese on February 18, 2025. He described the criticism that followed as unjustified.
The Assembly had recommended the Chief Judge’s removal over alleged misconduct and abuse of office.
However, the move was met with opposition from the Senate, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the National Judicial Council (NJC), and several other bodies.
Tiseer referenced a bill currently under consideration in the House of Representatives, which passed a second reading on March 26, 2025. The proposed legislation seeks to officially assign the NJC a role in the removal process of a Chief Judge.
He argued that this development supports the Benue Assembly’s stance.
“The fact that the National Assembly is considering this bill indicates that, under the current constitutional framework, the NJC has no defined role in the removal of a Chief Judge, as outlined in Section 292 (1) A (ii) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended,” he said.
Speaker Hyacinth Dajoh, who presided over the session, endorsed the resolution, emphasizing the need to consult the Supreme Court for a definitive ruling.
The Assembly is now set to move forward with its plan to seek the apex court’s interpretation, aiming to resolve the legal dispute surrounding its authority in such matters.
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