Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has distanced himself from the protest held against the state’s Chief Judge, Maurice Ikpembese, for relocating the Benue Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal from Benue to Abuja.
The Benue State Government, through the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Fidelis Mnyim, had questioned the CJ’s unilateral decision, saying that neither the governor nor his office had been formally notified
Justice Ikpembese had on March 5 ordered the relocation of the Benue Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal from Benue to Abuja, citing safety concerns.
The political tension is following an earlier attempt by the Benue State Government to remove the CJ over allegations of misconduct and corruption.