The CSOs alleged that Justice Ikpambese had not disclosed his assets as stipulated by the law.
A socio-political organisation, the Benue Diaspora Vanguard, has petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) to open an investigation on the Benue State Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese Ichol, over alleged non-declaration of assets amid other infractions.
In the petition, addressed to the Chairman of the NJC and signed by the convener of Benue Diaspora Vanguard (US Chapter), Comrade Itodo Isaac, a copy of which was sent to SaharaReporters, the group decried happenings in the Benue State judiciary, urging the NJC to investigate.
“All over the world, lawyers and indeed the law profession are seen as a calling reserved only for noble men with impeccable character,” the petition said, calling on the NJC to investigate the Benue Judiciary.
The CSOs alleged that Justice Ikpambese had not disclosed his assets as stipulated by the law.
“It is worth mentioning that Justice Ikpambese has ignored all legitimate requests for him to provide his CCB forms as required under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) as amended,” the group said.
"We therefore demand his immediate sack, followed by an investigation and prosecution for obvious infractions and violation of judicial norms and statutes."
The group also accused Justice Ikpambese of nepotism, saying "the Chief Judge has been secretly assigning his kinsmen and close allies who are lawyers to political cases with high stakes with strict instructions to play to the gallery. Any lawyer or judicial staff opposed to his schemes is severely punished. The recent transfer of the Registrar of Aliade High Court Division after withdrawing the case file of controversial political case is one of such examples. This open miscarriage of justice has become a norm in Benue State and must be investigated by the NJC.
"In fact, several such grand corruption schemes are currently ongoing in the Finance Department and other juicy departments in the judiciary. This is a flagrant abuse of the powers of his office. If concerted efforts are not made to prosecute Ikpambese, the judiciary in Benue will cast a long dark shadow on the entire judicial system in Nigeria".
The group equally called on the NJC to investigate the case of Benue State Board of Internal Revenue (BIRS) vs Mobile Telecommunications Nigeria Limited (MTN) where records have shown that, "the current Chief judge abused his office by awarding damages that were in excess of the entire judgement sum sought in the suit."
While giving the NJC a 2-week ultimatum to act on their petition or face a protest by all Benue sons and daughters at the National Headquarters of the National Judicial Council, the group urged the NJC "to review the last 15 judgements issued by the current Chief Judge of Benue State and confirm the authenticity of their allegations and claims."
When SaharaReporters reached out to the CJ's secretary, Stephen Tersoo Akaa, on the telephone to react to the sundry allegations in the petition, he declined comments and said he was not authorised to speak on the matter.