Government News Source, 4 June 2020
The State House of Assembly has resolved to stand by its earlier decision to reject the confirmation of Hon. Justice Akon Bassey Ikpeme as substantive Chief Judge of Cross River State.
This resolution was taken at plenary following a motion moved by House Leader, Rt Hon Peter Odey and seconded by Deputy Leader, Rt Hon Fred Osim which stated that the House, having taken a resolution on the matter will not revise its earlier decision.
The Speaker, Rt Hon Eteng Jonah Williams put forward the question whether the motion was the resolution of the House to which majority of Members overwhelmingly responded in the affirmative.
The Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Tina Agbor had conveyed an attached correspondence from the National Judicial Council on the confirmation of Justice Ikpeme and requested the House to treat the matter urgently to ensure that there was no vacuum in the Judiciary.
However, the Chairman House Committee on Judiciary, Public Service Matters, Public Petitions and Conflict Resolution, Rt Hon Efa Esua, told newsmen in an interview that he stands by his earlier decision that Justice Ikpeme deserves confirmation as Chief Judge but that since majority of the Members did not support it and voted against it, the majority's decision becames the resolution of the House of Assembly.
