Governor Ayade Finally Swears in Justice Akon Ikpeme As Chief Judge of Cross River State (Photo)

 

After many months of controversy, Justice Akon Ikpeme has been sworn-in as the Chief Judge of Cross River of Cross River state.

 

She was sworn in on Monday by Governor Ben Ayade at the Executive Chamber.

 

Governor Ayade charged her to be fair to all to move the state judiciary forward.

 

The Governor noted that the state was passing through a challenging period in its history and would want the judiciary to remain rancour-free to join hands with the Executive and Legislative arms to tackle those challenges.

 

Describing the new Chief Judge as the right person for the plum job, the Governor said Ikpeme was being sworn in at the right time and that despite the episodes of the last nine months which worked against her, she was indeed God’s choice.

“As a child of God, I expect you to dispense justice fairly, knowing that it was God who fought your battles. We need no distraction again in our judiciary”, he stated.

 

Responding, Justice Ikpeme lauded the Governor and members of the House of Assembly for making the day a reality and described the Governor as humane.

 

“We have put the past behind us. It would be foolhardy to dwell there. Every member of the Cross River State Judiciary shall be carried along and we shall ensure Justice and fairness to all,” she stated.

 

Recall that the State House of Assembly had, nine months ago, rejected Justice Ikpeme on the basis of her ethnic background, prompting the Governor to swear on two Junior Judges on acting capacity between March 2020 to January 2021.

 

The House, however, had a change of mind two weeks ago and confirmed her as a substantive Chief Judge, allegedly due to pressure from the National Judicial Commission which reportedly insisted on the most Senior Judge in the state judiciary, Ikpeme, as a substantive Chief Judge.