The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has condemned calls for the dismissal of the Chief Judge of the State by the State House of Assembly.
In a statement by the president of the association, the association stated that its “attention has been drawn to the reported resolution of the Abia State House of Assembly, calling on the Governor of Abia State to dismiss the Chief Judge of Abia State from service, for refusal to appear before the Abia State House of Assembly to answer to allegations of misconduct.
“The NBA has monitored various misleading radio reportage of the event to the effect that the Abia State House of Assembly has removed the Chief Judge of Abia State for gross misconduct.
“The NBA notes that the Independence of the Judiciary is the bedrock of democracy and rule of law and therefore calls on the governor of Abia State, His Excellency Chief Theodore Orji to reject this invitation to politicise the office of the Chief Judge and the judiciary in Abia State.
The NBA called on the “Abia State House of Assembly to exercise restraint in dealing with matters concerning the judiciary in the state, as this is coming too soon after the return of normalcy in the Abia State Judiciary, in the aftermath of the rejection of the recommendation of late Justice Ijeoma Ofonry as Chief Judge of Abia State by the National Judicial Council by the same House of Assembly.
“We trust that Abia State Government will be properly advised by the Chief Law Officer of the state, the Honourable the Attorney General of Abia State’, the statement further said.
The Nigerian Bar Association also noted that “it is in the interest of all that we have an independent, virile and fearless Judiciary at all levels”.
