Cross Rivers State House of Assembly has approved Justice Akon Ikpeme as the substantive Chief Judge of the state after she had been rejected twice by the same house.

CEOAFRICA on Thursday gathered that Governor Ben Ayad had earlier sent a letter to the House seeking  the confirmation of Justice Akon Ikpeme as the substantive Chief Judge of the state.

It was disclosed that the Leader of the House and representative of Ogoja Constituency, Peter Odey, moved the motion and was seconded by Whip, Okon Ephraim, representing Calabar South 1.

The Speaker, Eteng Williams, said Justice Ikpeme was just confirmed today, Thursday in spite of her earlier rejections.

He stated that “The Assembly just did its job. We got new facts. We got documents that we needed. We’ve done our own findings, and what the lawmakers had done was to stabilise the judiciary. “

He added that the Chief Judge is expected to discharge her duty without fear or favour and she should be fair.

Peter Odey also noted that “It was the decision of the House at that time not to confirm her. And it is the decision of the House of Assembly to confirm her today. The House has done the needful and that chapter is now behind us. I wish Cross River judiciary well.”

Justice Akon Ikpeme had served as Acting Chief Judge of the state for three months, followed by Justice Maurice Eneji, who acted for six months while Justice Eyo Effiom-Ita acted for three months.

The National Judicial Council had earlier recommended Justice Ikpeme to be confirmed as Chief Judge of the State following the retirement of Justice Michael Edem in 2019.

However, the State House of Assembly refused to confirm her, saying Justice Ikpeme was an indigene of Akwa Ibom State though married to a Cross Rivers man.