APC Elders Forum supports removal of Justice Ikpambese by Benue Assembly

We stand in solidarity with the Assembly on this decision, especially given the serious allegations that necessitated such action including mismanagement of the sum of N660,984,687.20k in less than one year in office

By Austin Angwe, Makurdi

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Elders Forum, Benue State has thrown its weight behind the Benue State House of Assembly’s recommendation which removed the Benue Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese.

Members of the Assembly had accused the Chief Judge of abusing his office by issuing a directive to over turn the Assembly’s Electoral Law duly passed by it and assented to by Governor Hyacinth Alia, misappropriation and mismanagement of budgetary allocation and finances of the Benue judiciary, engaging with politicians and political office holders for favourable judicial outcomes and act of corruption among others.

Addressing a press conference at the weekend in Makurdi, Chairman of the Elders Forum, Senator Barnabas Gemade told journalists that after thorough review of the circumstances surrounding the Chief Judge’s removal, it has become clear to members of the forum that the Benue Assembly acted within the constitutional framework outlined in section 292(1)a(11) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

“We stand in solidarity with the Assembly on this decision, especially given the serious allegations that necessitated such action including mismanagement of the sum of N660,984,687,20k in less than one year in office” Gemade affirmed.

He said the forum has also expressed solidarity with the Assembly over the chief judge’s manifest abuse of office by acting outside the scope of his work as the chief judge, pointing out that this was evidenced in the manner he granted waiver of section 76 of the Benue State Electoral law duly passed by the Assembly and assented to by the Governor of Benue State.

* Gemade

The elders commended the State House of Assembly for promptly sanctioning their erring members who attempted to ridicule the serious business of the house when in one breath they voted along with their colleagues for the removal of the Chief Judge only in another breath to step outside of the house chambers immediately to address a press conference castigating the same decision they supported with more than two- third majority votes.

Senator Gemade maintained that the elders equally passed vote of confidence on the Alia led government for working tirelessly to improve the lives of Benue citizens as well as enhancing their fortunes and commended President Tinubu for keeping faith with the renewed hope agenda.

He, on behalf of the elders, assured both President Bola Tinubu and Governor Hyacinth Alia of massive votes in the 2027 general election, announcing that Benue is prepared to repeat history.

The elders said the present administration under Governor Hyacinth Alia is on course as it is working tirelessly to improve the living conditions of Benue people, encouraging him to remain focused on his vision for development and urged detractors to refrain from ill- motivated interference that could hinder collective progress of the state.

While urging the opposition to engage government constructively, the APC elders forum called on stakeholders in Benue State to prioritize unity and cooperation, assuring that the forum will remain committed to supporting the state government to ensure that the state maintain its trajectory of development which had eluded it in recent past.

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