Concerned Gospel Ministers in Cross River State have called on the National Judicial Commission not to recognize Justice Eneji as the Chief Judge of the State.

Their call followed controversies that have trailed the rejection of Justice Akon Ikpeme by the Cross River State House of Assembly as substantive Chief Judge of the state.

The Ministers said it is unjust for the State Assembly to reject Justice Ikpeme confirmation and insisted that the judiciary in the state cannot be run on the basis by injustice.

In a statement made available in Calabar and jointly signed by Arch Bishop Archibong Archibong and Rev. Okoi Okoi, Chairman and Secretary respectively, they alleged that  delaying Justice Ikpeme’s confirmation hearing till the last day and ultimately rejecting her confirmation was deliberately done to install injustice.

“The church observes with dismay that the constitutional lacuna foisted on the state by the legislature on the 3rd month of Justice Akon Ikpeme’s acting appointment was deliberately last day designed to install injustice in the process of appointment of a substantive chief judge of Cross River State. The temple of justice cannot be administered by injustice.

“We therefore submit that since the reason given buy the house for Justice Ikpeme’s rejection were not cogent, the state government should withdraw the appointment of Hon. Justice Maurice Eneji as acting Chief Judge and swear in Justice Akon Ikpeme in the spirit of fairness, justice and humanity  which his Excellency, Gov Ben Ayade advocates.

“That the National Judicial Council should not as a matter of principle, justice and morality recognise Justice Maurice Eneji as Chief Judge  of Cross River State either  as acting or substantive, and should  take steps to restore peace to Cross River Judiciary and belief in our judicial officers as a bastion of hope,” the forum submitted.

The forum also said Justice Ikpeme cannot pose a security risk to the state because she was screened by the Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant services without any form of indictment, or blemish, so there is no way Justice Ikpeme could constitute a security risk.

They called for the reversal of Justice Ikpeme’s rejection because “it has tacitly injected venom, fear, hate, distrust and uncertainty into the women married to Cross Riverians. This alone has threatened the fabric of marital relationship and could lead to broken homes.”