The Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpambwese, has accused the state government of targeting him for refusing to compromise his position on the composition of local government election tribunals.
Justice Ikpambwese, who was recently removed by the Benue State House of Assembly over allegations of corruption, made this known during the burial rites of his mother-in-law over the weekend.
He alleged that his refusal to accept candidates imposed on him to handle local government election petitions led to his current predicament. According to him, the law empowers the Chief Judge to assign cases at the tribunal to judges, a responsibility he insists must be carried out without external influence.
“I don’t want to speak about this, but my sin is refusal to accept the people imposed on me to handle the local government council election petitions,” Ikpambwese said.
He further claimed that the state government attempted to pressure him into assigning cases to their preferred individuals, but he refused.
“So, the Benue State government tried to influence my decision, but I turned them down. When I want to assign cases, I first pray. I don’t just do it,” he added.
Justice Ikpambwese vowed to remain in office until the end of his tenure despite the pressure. He also accused the state government of using public funds to bribe people to facilitate his removal.
“They are using our commonwealth to bribe people to remove me, but let them continue their madness. I will remain the Chief Judge until the expiration of my tenure,” he declared.
The controversy surrounding his removal has sparked debates on judicial independence and the influence of political powers on the judiciary in Benue State.