The Cross River State House of Assembly in south-south Nigeria has finally sworn-in Justice Akon Ikpeme as the Chief Judge.
Justice Ikpeme, who took the Oaths of Allegiance and Office at the executive council chambers of Governor Ben Ayade’s office in Calabar, the state’s capital, is the second woman in the history of Cross River State to be appointed Chief Judge.
Ikpeme, whose nomination was confirmed by the Cross River House of Assembly on January 28, 2021, expressed gratitude to God for the privilege to serve alongside other members of the state judiciary.
She said, “With deep appreciation in my heart, I say thank you to God, who rules in the affairs of men. It is all by His grace.”
“To the governor, I say thank you for making this day a reality. I also must thank people from my jurisdiction, the legal profession; the national president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Senior Advocates of Nigeria for honouring this day,” Ikpeme noted.
On the task ahead, the 62year old Akon Ikpeme promised to work closely with the executive and legislative arms of government for the growth of Cross River State.
Stressing the significance of her oath of allegiance to the constitution and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, she said, “the judiciary under my watch, we will cooperate with you, we will cooperate with the legislature so that we can move Cross River State forward.”
“In my interaction with you, we agreed that there are key projects to be handled, I promise to cooperate with the other arms of government to make sure we succeed,” Ikpeme vowed.
Shortly after administering the Oaths on the Chief Judge, Governor Ayade described Akon Ikpeme as “a covenant child” noting that the swearing in was significant to the state.
According to Ayade, “Today brings to a close the internal concerns and worries of the people of Cross River State as per the stability of our judicial system.”
“I believe by His infinite mercy, God has chosen for us a woman with a good conscience, a leader in the church and a covenant child,”
He urged, “We must put behind all the challenges in the process of getting back here. I believe she is here at the right time and the right person for the job,“ he added.
The Governor charged the Chief Judge to avoid all forms of distractions, urging her to stabilize the judiciary, work in harmony with other arms and dispense speedy justice to the people.
“There must be harmony amongst the three arms of government to pursue the economic agenda of this state. As a maritime state bounded by a very hostile environment and the Ambazonian people, it is clear for us as a state that we have a lot of international boundary matters to deal with,” he averred.
“We have a lot of internal crisis amongst ethnic nationalities that constitute Cross River State. The judiciary, therefore, will be bedevilled with so much work that we cannot afford a distraction,” Ayade emphasized.
He further urged, “To those who need justice, be just. In your distribution of power, be fair. You have our full support and I believe you will do justice to all to the glory of God.”
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Chief Judge from Enugu, High Court Judges of Akwa Ibom and Delta States as well as the National President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Justice Olumide Apata.
It would be recalled that Ikpeme, who was to take over from the former state chief judge, Justice Michael Edem, only acted as chief judge from December 3, 2019, to March 2, 2020
The state House of Assembly later swore in Justice Maurice Eneji, who acted twice until September 2, 2020.
Governor Ayade then wrote to the State House of Assembly to confirm Justice Ikpeme after Justice Eyo Effiom Ita who was appointed to replace Eneji, tenure ended on January 21, 2021
PIAK
