Scores of lawyers in Cross River State under the auspices of the Concerned Lawyers have protested the absence of a substantive chief judge in the state.
The lawyers protest comes against the backdrop of the crisis that has plagued the state’s Judiciary.The Cross River State Judiciary has been without a substantive head since the retirement of Justice Michael Edem last year.
Following his retirement, the National Judicial Council recommended Justice Akon Ikpeme for confirmation as substantive head of the Judiciary but the state assembly rejected her for reasons of her an ancestry and for posing a security risk to the state.
Following her rejection, the governor appointed Justice Eneji as acting Chief Judge but his three months tenure has since lapsed hence throwing the Judiciary into crisis.
The lawyers assembled at the Judiciary Headquarters along Mary Slessor Road in Calabar with various placards.
Some of the placards read “Cross River State deserves a chief judge”, ” we deserve a better Judiciary in Cross River State”, “Please members of the CRSHA do not let the executive use you to suppress the Judiciary”
Others read “Cross River State House of Assembly has been captured. We cannot allow the Judiciary be captured, “Litigants are suffering as cases filed cannot be assigned”.
Effiom Ayi, the leader of the group said never in the history of the state been enmeshed in a totally avoidable bickering and dirty politics.
He said the crisis has crippled the effective dispensation of Justice and the growth of the legal profession in the state.
“We cannot in all sense of responsibility say that after three hundred and eighteen days (318), Cross River State cannot have a chief judge in substantive capacity.
“As at Friday 16th October 2020, over a hundred cases including fundamental rights action filed by citizens cannot be assigned or heard.
“Letters of Administration and probate cannot be granted, recommendations for appointment of judges, senior advocates of Nigeria and notaries public cannot be issued.
“The negative effect and impact of all these on the security of the state, the economy, practice of legal practitioners and the growth of the legal profession is evidently loud.
“Never in the history of the state has the Judiciary been enmeshed in this totally avoidable bickering and dirty politics as to who should occupy the office of chief judge.
“The admirable tradition of succession in the Judiciary should be respected and upheld. We call on the executive and legislature in the interest of the state to do the right thing and fill the vacancy in a substantive capacity as doing so will be absolutely digital and fair”, he said
He called on the executive and legislative arms of the government to immediately fill the vacancy in line with the recommendation of the NJC.
