While the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999), Section 271.(1-5) as amended, remains unambiguous as to who is to take over as the Chief Judge of Cross River State from today Friday, 29th November, 2019, following the retirement of Hon. Justice Michael Edem, Judiciary sources have insisted to www.calitown.com that the Cross Rivet State Government appears bent on going against the law of succession in the Judiciary.
In a letter obtained by www.calitown.com and signed by new CRS Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Tanko Ashang and four others, Obojor Agbor, Joe Ebam, Asuquo Asibong and Tasen Okune, members of the Ayade-appointed Juducial Service Commission, it was disclosed that at a “meeting of November 27th, 2019, the Commission considered the impending vacancy for the position of Chief Judge of Cross River State.”
The letter went on to say that: “In view of the earlier recommendation for Hon. Justice Akon B. Ikpeme, to be appointed as President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Maurice Odey Eneji, is the next most senior Judge for the position of Acting Chief Judge” and therefore recommended that Eneji be appointed Chief Judge.
A rather funny twist to this letter remains the clear fact that Michael Edem, the CJ who is retiring today, did not sign this letter forwarded to Abuja.
Constitutionally, as CJ, he heads the State Judicial Service Commission. He had severally notified the public of clandestine moves by the state government to skip Ikpeme and appoint Eneji, CJ, it appears clearly that his worst fears have been confirmed.
More details shortly
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