The Acting Chief Judge of Cross River State, Justice Maurice Eneji has suspended the swearing-in of members of Local Government Elections Petition Tribunals in accordance to the Cross river State Governor, Sen. (Prof.) Benedict Ayade directive’s in reality of the postponement of the local government election.
Justice Maurice Eneji
The Inauguration exercise was earlier scheduled to hold today, March 24, at the State High Court Calabar. In attendance at the meeting were; Chief Magistrate, Ikpi I. Abam, Chief Magistrate, Victoria S.S Ebaye, Chief Magistrate, Rose Ugo Ogbeche, Chief Magistrate, Ekong E. Imona, Chief Magistrate Eunice O. Dada (DCR) amongst other distinguished judiciary’s.
Justice Eneji Maurice briefed the member’s on the postponement of their swearing-in as earlier scheduled. He Said, “Be assured your appointment is still in place because the Governor has approved it. But, due to the Local Government Election placed on suspension also the courts has been ordered to shutdown for 14 days in directives of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, Hon (Dr.) Justice I. T. Muhammad, CFR and the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Sen (Prof.) Ben Ayade in awareness of the pandemic COVID-19, it is wise to place your swearing in on hold until normal activities resumes and a new election date is fixed by the State government”.
He fully assured, the member’s that as soon a new election date is fixed they will be sworn in.
Justice Maurice Eneji also advised the members of the Election Petition Tribunal’s to study the practice direction as distributed to govern the hearing of the election cases and that of the local government areas in the state so as to work effectively with the law.
The Acting Chief Judge Congratulated the selected members of the panels as they were carefully selected. He urged them to discharge their duties diligently for the overall interest of the State.
