Benue Chief Judge’s Office Blocked with Sand Amid Political Crisis

In a dramatic escalation of tensions between the Benue State House of Assembly and the judiciary, truckloads of sand were used to block the entrance of the Chief Judge’s office in Makurdi. The move, which was ostensibly for renovation purposes, was accompanied by a heavy security presence, preventing access to the office and further fueling controversy surrounding the recent removal of Chief Judge Maurice Ikpambese.

The decision to remove Justice Ikpambese by the state assembly has been met with widespread condemnation. The Nigerian Senate criticized the action, stating it was taken “without recourse to the tenets of the law.” The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) also denounced the removal as unacceptable, while the Benue caucus of the National Assembly called for an immediate reversal of the resolution.

Despite the outcry, the Benue State House of Assembly remained firm, insisting that it acted within the law and that the Chief Judge’s removal stands. Majority Leader Saater Tiseer defended the assembly’s actions, citing Section 292(1)(a)(ii) of the 1999 Constitution, which allows for the removal of a Chief Judge by the governor following an address supported by a two-thirds majority of the House of Assembly. He clarified that the assembly’s decision was to remove Ikpambese as Chief Judge of Benue, not as a judicial officer, and that the National Judicial Council (NJC) was not required to be involved.

In response to the crisis, the Senate has directed its Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights to investigate and report back within two weeks. Senator Abba Moro, who sponsored the motion alongside Senators Emmanuel Udende and Titus Zam, warned that the situation in Benue could pose a significant threat to democracy if left unchecked. He stressed that sections 153 and 271 of the 1999 Constitution grant the NJC exclusive authority over the appointment and removal of chief judges, and any deviation from this framework undermines the rule of law.

Meanwhile, JUSUN strongly criticized the state assembly’s actions, describing them as a dangerous precedent that threatens judicial independence. National President Marwan Adamu asserted that the removal of Justice Ikpambese appeared to be a deliberate attempt to silence the judiciary. He warned that this act of intimidation could have far-reaching implications for judicial officers across Nigeria.

Adding to the controversy, the state assembly also suspended 13 lawmakers who opposed the resolution to remove the Chief Judge. Tiseer defended the suspension, stating that those members had misled the public, as a majority had initially supported the removal during the plenary session.