CJ Removal: Gov Alia Has Exposed His Hypocrisy, Fake Life
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State addressed journalists in Abuja yesterday, denying allegations that he sought to remove Justice Maurice Ikpambese as Chief Judge. The governor clarified that the Benue State House of Assembly recommended the removal, but he did not approve it, instead forwarding the recommendation to the National Judicial Commission.
Governor Alia’s denial of involvement in this shameful act is not only self-serving but has also exposed him for who he really is – a man full of hypocrisy and deception. Benue people can see the person they voted for as governor.
Remember that Alia was one of the governors who went to court seeking the scrapping of EFCC. When he sensed that they would lose the case, he quickly turned round and suspended the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Fidelis Mnyim, claiming that the Attorney General joined Benue in the suit without his consent. Do not forget that he later returned the Attorney General to his position. Similarly, Alia was among the governors who strongly fought against the granting of financial autonomy for local governments at the Supreme Court. He and the other governors lost the case and he quickly came out to say that he has always supported autonomy for local governments.
But what do you expect from a man who went against his vows as a priest and jumped into politics, was suspended but came out to say that the Bishop only gave him permission to go and contest election? What do you expect from a man whose people are being attacked and killed by Fulani herdsmen but he keeps defending Fulani and lying that attacks have ended and peace has returned to all parts of Benue State? What do you expect from a man who promised to return internally displaced people (IDP) to their ancestral homelands within his first 100 days in office but is now building more camps for the IDPs? What do you expect from a governor who promised to clear the arrears of salaries and pensions but has refused to do so despite receiving huge allocations from the federation’s account? What do you expect from a governor who is recruiting gangs of thugs to go after his political opponents?
Governor Alia’s latest claim that the Benue State House of Assembly was solely responsible for the recommendation to remove the Chief Judge, has left even his avid supporters shocked beyond words.
The avalanche of evidence however strongly contradicts Alia’s vain narrative. During the House of Assembly sitting where the purported removal of Chief Judge was perpetrated, the House Majority Leader, Saater Tiser read a letter from Governor Alia delivered to the House by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mnyim.
Governor Alia desperately sought the Chief Judge’s removal due to the latter’s refusal to compromise and comply with the governor’s demands regarding the composition of judges for the Local Government Election Petition Tribunal.
Alia’s assertion that he did not initiate the request for the Chief Judge’s removal is not only misleading but it also showcases a blatant disregard for integrity and honour to the high office he occupies.
Questions for Governor Alia
If Governor Alia did not authorize Attorney General Mnyim to write to the House of Assembly demanding the Chief Judge’s removal, then who indeed did? This critical question remains unanswered and exposes the governor’s evasive tactics.
If Governor Alia did not push for the removal of Justice Ikpambese, who gave N2 billion to members of the Assembly who supported the removal of the CJ in the guise of overseas trip for the legislators?
Another question for Governor Alia is; who directed that sharp sand be used to block the entrance to the Benue State High Court where the Local Government Election Petition Tribunal has been sitting?
Who sent thugs to hold 16 judges hostage at the State High Court premises?
The Governor should also be reminded that the people took note of the swift and chaotic actions taken by the Assembly, led by Speaker Aondona Dajoh, to vote for the Chief Judge’s removal and recommend the appointment of a successor in contravention of constitutional procedures, indicating a planned assault on judicial independence.
We commend the National Judicial Commission’s prompt intervention to overturn this unconstitutional act of Governor Alia and his group. The NJC’s intervention underscores the resilience of our legal framework against political machinations. Governor Alia’s belated downplay of his role in the egregious act, hoping to cast himself as a mere bystander in a situation he orchestrated is laughable.
The Governor should be ashamed of himself.
Signed:
Dennis Agema
President
Network For Transparent Governance (NTG).
