We’ve been reduced to beggars Cross River magistrates protesting unpaid two-year salaries
Published 6 February 2021
Some magistrates in Cross River State recently protested for several days at the governor’s office over two years’ unpaid salaries. Their leader, Solomon Abuo, tells ADA WODU about the plight of the magistrates
It is about a month now that you and your fellow magistrates were withdrawn from the courts. What is the situation now?
Since our withdrawal from our courts via a letter dated January 4, 2021 but served on us on January 14, 2021, we have been staying at home in compliance with the directive of the former acting Chief Judge, Justice Eyo Effiom-Ita. On January 18, 2021, we wrote a letter captioned, “Re: Withdrawal From Sitting in Court” to the then acting Chief Judge through the Chief Registrar. We appealed to the acting Chief Judge to reverse the indefinite withdrawal or sit-at-home directive as it would affect our zeal and passion for the job an
TODAY
January 27, 2021
The Cross River State House of Assembly has scheduled to confirm Justice Akom Ikpeme as Substantive Chief Judge of the State on Thursday, January 28, 2021.
Newsmen gathered that all machineries have been put in place to confirm Justice Ikpeme following the refusal of the National Judicial Council to extend the acting tenure of Justice Eyo Effiom.
Justice Eyo Effiom Ita acting capacity expired on Monday January 18th 2021. Justice Akon B. Ikpeme has acted as Acting Chief Judge of the State for three months, followed by Justice Maurice O. Eneji, who acted for six months while Justice Eyo Ita acted for three months.
Daily Post Nigeria
Published
The Cross River State House of Assembly has scheduled to confirm Justice Akom Ikpeme as Substantive Chief Judge of the State on Thursday, January 28, 2021.
DAILY POST authoritatively gathered that all machineries have been put in place to confirm Justice Ikpeme following the refusal of the National Judicial Council to extend the acting tenure of Justice Eyo Effiom.
Justice Eyo Effiom Ita acting capacity expired on Monday January 18th 2021. Justice Akon B. Ikpeme has acted as Acting Chief Judge of the State for three months, followed by Justice Maurice O. Eneji, who acted for six months while Justice Eyo Ita acted for three months.
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The Cross River State Acting Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Effiom Eyo-Ita, has withdrawn the 29 protesting magistrates, who on Monday and Tuesday last week took to the streets of Calabar to protest the non-payment of their two years’ salary by Governor Ben Ayade, from sitting.
It would be recalled that Senior Magistrate Safiya Iyeh Ashipu of Odukpani Magisterial Division, had on Monday, January 4, led her two sons to the Government House, Calabar, with placards of various inscriptions, asking the governor to pay her 24-month unpaid salary.
The following day, 28 other magistrates in the same plight as Ashipu, donning their full regalia stormed the Governor’s Office in protest against the non-payment of their salary for 24 months. During the protest, one of them, Richard Bassey, collapsed and was revived by his other colleagues.
Only Ayade can decide fate of 29 magistrates ― Cross River acting CJ Only Ayade can decide fate of 29 magistrates ― Cross River acting CJ
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The Acting Chief Judge of Cross River State, Justice Eyo Effiom Ita, has said that only Governor Ben Ayade could determine the fate of the 29 magistrates who took to the streets on Tuesday in protest against the non-payment of their salaries in the last two years.
The magistrates who have in the last two years been holding courts and performing other adjudication matters were said to have not been properly employed because Governor Ayade did not sign off the approval for their recruitment into the state’s judiciary.