The Senate has urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Miriam Alooma Mukhtar, to swear in Justice Ifeoma Jombo-Ofo as a justice of the Court of Appeal.
The appeal followed a debate on a motion presented by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and co-sponsored by 94 other senators on the suspension of Justice Jombo-Ofo’s appointment because of a petition that she was being appointed a Justice for a state which is not her state of origin.
The lawmakers were displeased with the action of the Chief Justice, saying it threatens the sanctity of marriage and could negatively affect the plight of professional women.
The Senate President said the act also threatened the plight of married professional women.
The motion was adopted unanimously. The senate also directed all government agencies to take note that a married woman can lay claim to both her sate of origin and that of her husband.
The senate spokesman said the senate believes this resolution will be complied with immediately.
It is reported that Justice Jombo-Ofo, who was appointed a High Court judge on November 4, 1998 following her call to Bar in 1979, was on the initial list of the 12 released by the apex court for the swearing ceremony, but a controversial petition protesting against her taking Abia State’s slot caused the jurist’s name to be struck out.
According to the petition, Jombo-Ofo did not disclose the truth of her state of origin. She is originally from Anambra, but subsequently transferred her service to her husband’s state (Abia) upon marriage.
