Crisis as 2 separate boards claim authority over judicial commission

The newly reconstituted members of the Abia State Judicial Service Commission (ASJSC) have accused the Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Theresa Uzokwe, of refusal to recognize them.

The members of the ASJSC accused the CJ of taking unilateral decisions and making appointments and transfer of judicial workers outside due process.

Speaking with newsmen in Umuahia, a member of the new commission Obinna Nkume said that the state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu had earlier dissolved the former commission and reconstituted a new one.

Nkume said that since the reconstitution of the commission that the CJ had refused to recognize them or call for a meeting with the new members who were duly appointed in November 2016.

Recalling that the former commission was dissolved by the governor on the recommendation of the state House of Assembly, Nkume said, “Since then the CJ had been operating the affairs of the commission from her office as CJ and also fraternizing with the former secretary, Lawrence Okite.”

As the complaint by the new members raged, members of the dissolved board demonstrated their resolve to stay back in office, saying they were wrongfully dissolved.

Okite said that when the state House of Assembly made their recommendation alleging incompetence, “the members felt aggrieved and went to court and the court ruled that the status quo should remain and granted an interim injunction restraining the swearing in of the new members.

Okite said that all state JSCs were supposed to be headed by the state CJ “and this group which terms itself as the reconstituted commission has never held any meeting with the CJ as chairman so they are illegal.”