TODAY
January 22, 2021
Cross River government and protesting Magistrates are engaged in a silent war over the payments of two years salaries of the later.
Governor Ben Ayade had in a letter signed on behalf of the acting Chief Judge of the state, Eyo Effiom Ita, by Chief Registrar Edem N Okokon, last week ordered the sack of 30 magistrates protesting the non-payment of two years worth of salaries.
The letter stated that since the state has been unable to pay them since February 2019 when they were engaged, they had been withdrawn from sitting in any court until further notice.
And a few days after the withdrawal letter, the government has again insisted that the 29 magistrates forfeit the 24 months salary iwed them if they want to continue in their employ.
Daily Post Nigeria
Published
The Acting Chief Judge of Cross River State, Hon Justice Eyo Efiom Ita has ordered the 29 Protesting Magistrates in the state to vacate their sits in various courts in the state pending the resolution of the matter involving their two years salary.
In a statement titled ‘Withdrawal from sitting in Court’ issued by the Registrar, Edem N. Okokon, the Acting Chief Judge regretted the inability of the state government to pay the magistrate’s salaries since their appointment in February 2019/
“I have the directive of the Lordship of the Hon Acting Chief Judge of Cross River State Hon Justice Eyo Efiom Ita to inform you that in view of the State Government inability to pay your salary since your appointment in February 2019, you are hereby withdrawn from sitting in court till further notice”