- The Coalition for Good Governance and Transparency in Nigeria has given the National Judicial Council (NJC) 48 hours to investigate Justice Maurice Ikpambese.
- The group accuses Ikpambese of bias, political interference, and judicial misconduct.
- The State House of Assembly recently passed a resolution recommending the Chief Judge’s removal following a petition by Governor Hyacinth Alia.
A coalition of civil society organizations under the Coalition for Good Governance and Transparency in Nigeria has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate allegations against the embattled Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpambese.
Speaking at a world press conference on Wednesday, the group, led by Comrade Okpanachi Jacob, accused Justice Ikpambese of bias, political interference, and judicial misconduct. They warned that failure to take action could trigger mass protests aimed at restoring public confidence in the judiciar, EKO HOT BLOG reports.
The group’s demand follows last week’s resolution by the Benue State House of Assembly recommending the removal of the Chief Judge. The resolution was based on a petition from Governor Hyacinth Alia, citing alleged infractions deemed incompatible with the responsibilities of his office.
Quoting Section 292(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the coalition emphasized that while the NJC has the authority to discipline judicial officers, the final decision on removal rests with the state governor.
The coalition criticized the NJC for failing to act on multiple petitions against the Chief Judge, some of which date back to 2010. They argued that the NJC’s recent statement—claiming it had only received a petition against Ikpambese on February 19, 2025—was misleading, as earlier petitions had gone unaddressed.
Furthermore, they alleged that the Chief Judge’s handling of the Local Government Election Petition Tribunal demonstrated clear bias and favoritism. His alleged waiver of security deposit requirements, they claimed, compromised the integrity of the tribunal’s proceedings.
Declaring that the Benue judiciary has “collapsed” under Justice Ikpambese, the group called on the NJC, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and other legal bodies to ensure accountability.
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Additionally, they urged the Governor and State Assembly to resist external pressure from political forces seeking to derail governance in the state.
The coalition demanded that:
The NJC constitute a panel within 48 hours to investigate and prosecute Justice Ikpambese for misconduct.
Governor Hyacinth Alia swear in the next-ranking judge as the Acting Chief Judge.
The Attorney General of the Federation intervene to uphold constitutional provisions regarding the removal of a Chief Judge under Section 292 of the Constitution.
The coalition warned that if the NJC and Attorney General fail to act, they would stage mass protests at NJC headquarters to demand justice.
“In an ideal society, Justice Ikpambese should have stepped aside to allow for proper investigation,” Okpanachi Jacob stated. “Instead, he was quoted on February 23, 2025, during a church program, boasting that he handpicked judges to shield himself from scrutiny. This is a clear testament to the compromised state of Benue’s judiciary.”
The group insisted that their actions were necessary to prevent political instability in Benue State and safeguard democracy.
