NBA Condemns Alia’s Brazen Assault on the Judiciary, Calls for Immediate Reversal of Chief Judge’s Removal
In a stunning and unprecedented move that has sparked national outrage, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly condemned the purported removal of the Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, branding it a “brazen assault on the Constitution and the rule of law.”
The NBA, in a hard-hitting statement signed by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, and General Secretary, Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara, expressed deep contempt for the Benue State House of Assembly’s resolution directing Governor Hyacinth Alia to remove Justice Ikpambese from office. The association described the move as an outright violation of constitutional provisions and an affront to Nigeria’s democratic order.
Constitutional Mockery and Judicial Overreach
The NBA minced no words in labeling the actions of the Benue Assembly as laughable and an egregious display of constitutional ignorance. Citing Sections 153 and 271 of the 1999 Constitution, the NBA reminded lawmakers that the removal of a Chief Judge is exclusively within the purview of the National Judicial Council (NJC), not the whims of state politicians.
The association slammed the House for usurping powers it does not possess, emphasizing that only the NJC can investigate allegations of misconduct against judicial officers before making a recommendation to the Governor. Without this process, the NBA declared, any supposed removal of Justice Ikpambese is “unconstitutional, null, and void.”
“It is disgraceful that the Benue State House of Assembly, either out of ignorance or deliberate mischief, would purport to have powers to discuss, let alone recommend, the removal of the Chief Judge without NJC involvement. This move is nothing but an attack on judicial independence,” the statement read.
Dangerous Precedent and Political Machinations
The NBA warned that such reckless attempts to interfere with the judiciary threaten the separation of powers and undermine public confidence in the legal system. It noted that the latest maneuver mirrors Governor Alia’s earlier failed attempt to suspend and remove the state party chairman, an act widely viewed as a desperate effort to consolidate unchecked power.
A political analyst, speaking on the development, described the move as part of a broader pattern of “irrational, irresponsible decisions” driven by political desperation.
“Governor Alia has already failed in his attempt to orchestrate the removal of the APC State Chairman, and he will fail again with this unconstitutional attempt against the Chief Judge,” the observer stated. “This is a political quagmire of his own making, and it will continue to backfire.”
NBA’s Call to Action: Resistance and Sanctions
In a move signaling its zero-tolerance stance on judicial manipulation, the NBA has called on all Benue State High Court judges to reject any offer to act as Chief Judge, warning that no vacancy exists. It has also directed all NBA branches in the state to boycott the court of any judge who dares to accept the illegal appointment.
The legal body further urged the NJC to impose severe sanctions on any judge who participates in what it described as a “blatant subversion of the Constitution.”
Additionally, the NBA has called on security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), to ensure that Justice Ikpambese is not harassed, intimidated, or prevented from carrying out his constitutional duties.
A Stern Warning to the Benue State Government
Reaffirming its commitment to upholding the rule of law, the NBA vowed to resist all attempts to undermine judicial independence, warning that the removal of judges outside due process will be met with fierce opposition from the legal community.
The association has demanded that the Benue State House of Assembly immediately rescind its illegal decision and follow constitutional procedures through the NJC if it has any grievances against the Chief Judge.
“The show of shame must stop,” the NBA declared, sending a strong message to Governor Alia and the Benue State Assembly that the legal profession will not stand idly by while the judiciary is subjected to political bullying.
