News
Benue Assembly approves dismissal of State Chief Judge
….. As 13 lawmakers kick against
The Benue State House of Assembly has proposed the dismissal of the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, due to purported gross misconduct and misuse of authority.
The Assembly asserted that his removal would allow the National Judicial Commission (NJC) to conduct an investigation into the accusations made against him.
Furthermore, in a resolution passed on Tuesday, the Assembly suggested that the next senior Judge be sworn in to occupy the position that would be vacated by his dismissal.
The resolution of the House followed a correspondence from Governor Hyacinth Alia and read on the floor of the House by the Majority Leader, Mr Saater Tersee.
The correspondence alleged that the Chief Judge violated the ethical standard of the judicial system.
The Chief Judge was alleged to have overturned the Benue State Electoral law that was duly passed by the State Assembly and signed into law by the State Governor.
Justice Ikpambese was also accused of allegedly misappropriating the 2024 budgetary allocation of the Judiciary.
He was accused of undue favouritism, engaging with politicians and also being indirectly involved in the industrial action by judicial workers against the government.
The Chief Whip of the House, Peter Ipusu said the Chief Judge erred by tampering with the electoral law made by the State Assembly.
Calling for the matter to be put to vote, the lawmaker representing Gboko East, Becky Orpin moved a motion for members to vote on the matter. Her motion was seconded by the Deputy Minority Leader, Blessed Onah.
Given the heated argument for and against the removal of the Chief Judge, the Speaker of the House, Aondona Dajoh asked the Clerk of the House, Mr. John Kwande to divide the House which saw 23 of the 32 member House voting for the removal of Justice Ikpambese.
Thirteen members of the Benue Assembly have distanced themselves from what they described as the purported resolution to remove the Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese.
Some of the lawmakers earlier declared Ikpambese removed over alleged abuse of office and financial impropriety.
Hon Douglas Akya of Makurdi South Constituency said they dissociated themselves from the action while addressing journalists at the residence of Hon Beckie Orpin, in Makurdi.
The other lawmakers at the briefing include:
Hon William Ortyom – Agasha; Hon Jonathan Agbidye – Katsina-Ala East; Hon Samuel Anyor Matu – Kwande East; Hon Pastor Onah Blessed – Oju 1; Orpin Beckie – Gboko East; Hon Elias Terumbur Audu – Gwer East; Hon Nyiyongo Ezra – Ukum; Hon Abraham Zahemen Jabi – Buruku; Hon Gabo Simon – Mata; Hon Samuel Agada – Ogbadibo; Hon Gyila Solomon T – Gwer West; Hon Manger M Manger – Tarka.
They said: “This action is not only unconstitutional, it violates the principles of separation of powers and fair hearing which is necessary for the sustenance of democracy.
“The provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, clearly states a Chief Judge of a state can only be removed on recommendation of the National Judicial Council which is responsible for disciplinary actions against judicial officers on an address supported by two-third majority of members of the House of Assembly of a state praying for the removal of the state Chief Judge.”
“The attendance at today’s sitting was 31 members, the Speaker did not vote, and 13 members did not vote, therefore, it is unimaginable that in an Assembly of 32 members where 31 were in attendance and 13 members did not vote, the voting produced 23 votes,” he stressed.
They submitted that since none of the requirements for the removal of the Chief Judge had been met, they decided to distance themselves from the action as disciples of democracy and constitutionality.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, February 20, 2025, endorsed to two bills establishing the Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies, Iragbiji in Osun State, and the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin Ekiti, Ekiti State.
He said these specialised institutions will address the educational needs of the populace while driving research and innovation and contributing to the country’s overall economic growth and development.
He said the institutions will serve as training grounds for developing agriculture, science and technology professionals and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global economy.
According to the National Universities Commission (NUC), Nigeria currently has 63 approved federal universities, 63 State universities, and 149 private universities.
On February 3, 2025, the president approved the establishment of the Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET) in Ogoni town of Tai, Rivers State.
Tinubu also consented to the federal government’s takeover of a forfeited private university in Southern Kaduna and its transformation into a federal university.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that France was entering a “new era” and that he planned to tell US President Donald Trump he could not “be weak” with Vladimir Putin.
Macron spoke to the French ahead of a planned visit to the White House to meet Trump next week, as Europe scrambles to respond to his Ukraine war shift.
“I’m going to tell him: ‘You can’t be weak with President Putin. That’s not who you are, it’s not your trademark, it’s not in your interest’”, Macron said as he answered questions from the French public on social media.
Trump will meet in Washington with Macron on Monday and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday next week, the White House said.
Trump has sent shock waves around Europe by saying he is ready to resume diplomacy with Putin to end Russia’s three-year war against Ukraine, over the heads of European countries and Kyiv.
In recent days French officials have said the French public needed to understand the magnitude of the threat coming from the Kremlin.
Macron told reporters earlier this week: “Russia poses an existential threat to Europeans.”
On Thursday, the French president said that France needed to beef up security amid the shock policy shift in US-Russia relations.
I am convinced that we are entering a new era. It will impose choices on us,” Macron said. “We Europeans must increase our war effort.”
Macron stressed he did not plan to send troops to Ukraine “tomorrow” but indicated that France was considering providing security guarantees to Ukraine following a ceasefire deal with Russia.
“I have not decided to send troops to Ukraine tomorrow, no,” he said.
“What we are considering instead is sending forces to guarantee peace once it has been negotiated,” he said.
Speaking to AFP earlier Thursday, a French source familiar with the discussions said France was working with European countries to ensure security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire agreement.
Macron also said he planned to speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later Thursday.
AFP
…as bandits demand N100m ransom
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
An ex- presidential candidate, Eniola Ojajuni, has been reportedly shot and abducted by bandits in Abuja.
Mr Ojajuni was abducted from his vehicle on Monday, family sources revealed.
Mr Ojajuni was the presidential candidate of the defunct Alliance for Democracy, in 2019.
The politician was on his way to a meeting when he was attacked.
“The kidnappers have reached out to his (Mr Ojajuni) wife, demanding a ransom of N100 million,” said a source on Thursday.
The source also revealed that Mr Ojajuni, the national president of the Afenifere Youths Council, was shot in the buttocks during the attack.
“The Afenifere National Youths Council is deeply saddened to announce the kidnapping of its national president, Prince Eniola Joseph Ojajuni, in Abuja, Nigeria.
“During the kidnapping, Prince Ojajuni sustained a bullet wound on his buttock. We are deeply concerned about his safety and well-being, and we urge the kidnappers to release him unharmed,” the youth group said in a statement.
The FCT police command spokeswoman, Josephine Adeh, could not be immediately reached for a comment.
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