Governor Ayade Swears In New Acting Judge After Assembly Rejected Justice Ikpeme

Governor Ben Ayade

A new Acting Chief Judge in the person of Justice Maurice Eneji has been sworn-in by Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade on Tuesday  

The event took place inside the Executive Council chamber, Diamond Hill, Calabar.

Justice Eneji took over from Justice Akon Ikpeme whose appointment as a substantive Chief Judge was not confirmed by the state House of Assembly on Monday.

Ikpeme acted as chief judge from December 3, 2019, to March 2, 2020.

Eneji is the second most senior judge in the state, after Justice Ikpeme.

Ayade said the swearing-in of Justice Eneji was imperative as law and nature abhor a vacuum.

He congratulated Eneji on his appointment and urged him to dispense justice without fear or favour.

“I urge you to dispense justice without fear or favour. You have to have fairness of mind. The law is blind and should not be sensitive to religion, ethnicity, colour or any other affiliation.

“We ask that the leadership of the judiciary under your watch should be very exemplary and should be such that every other state would like to emulate. We know your background and believe that you are competent and capable and worthy of this office,” he said.

The new acting Chief Judge. in his remarks, pledged to carry out reforms that would aid justice delivery in the state.