An independent legal advocacy group, Nigeria Judicial Aids, has raised an alarm over an alleged plot by the Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, to frustrate the appeal process of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the Benjamin Omale-led Unity Caretaker Committee.
According to a statement signed by the group’s President, Barrister Chuks Ugochukwu, SAN, the Chief Judge is allegedly planning to grant emergency sick leave to two court registrars responsible for receiving the appeal from the Omale-led APC faction. The group claims the move is a calculated attempt to prevent the filing of the appeal within the constitutionally stipulated 14-day window.
The appeal challenges the recent ruling of the Local Government Elections Petition Tribunal, which sitting at the NBA House in Abuja, handed control of nine local governments to the faction led by Austin Agada. The Unity Caretaker Committee has until two weeks from Monday to file its appeal.
“But once the registrars are out of the country from Friday this week under the guise of medical leave, the party will lose its window to file the appeal, and the case will end there,” the statement said.
Barrister Ugochukwu further accused Justice Ikpambese of partisanship, alleging that he is undermining judicial integrity for political gain.
“This tells you how partisan the Chief Judge of Benue State is. He has been wining and dining with politicians in defiance of the ethics of his office. Reports available to us show he has allegedly been promised the 2027 governorship ticket of the Labour Party by Dr. George Akume,” the statement alleged.
The group also claimed that a secret meeting took place at the Maitama residence of Dr. Akume on Tuesday evening, attended by Justice Ikpambese, two federal appointees—Matthias Byuan and Pius Akutah—and some members of the National Assembly from Benue State. At the meeting, it was allegedly resolved that the Chief Judge should immediately approve the overseas medical leave for the registrars, who are critical to the appeal process.
Nigeria Judicial Aids further claimed that several millions of naira have been earmarked to fund the overseas travel of the registrars, who are supposed to be on duty within the crucial 14-day period.
The group called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to intervene and prevent what it described as “judicial terrorism and abuse of power” by Justice Ikpambese and his backers.
They also threatened to mobilize a nationwide, peaceful protest should the Chief Judge proceed with the approval of the alleged emergency sick leave.
