Conflicting Court Orders: Cross River CJ Summon Judges, Warn Against Conflicting Ex-Parte Orders

By Patrick Obia

The Chief Judge of the High Court of Cross River State, Justice Akon Ikpeme has advised the body of Judges in the Court to be wary about the ex parte motions they grant.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Chief Registrar of the Court, Eden Okokon Esq which also cautioned the Judges on assumption of jurisdiction.

The statement is a product of a meeting the CJ had with the Judges on Monday after she, alongside her Anambra, Imo, Kebbi and Rivers States counterparts were summoned by the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Tanko Muhammad over conflicting ex parte orders on political cases.

The statement.

CHIEF JUDGE OF THE STATE CALLS EMERGENCY MEETING OF JUDGES OF CROSS RIVER STATE JUDICIARY ON HER RETURN FROM ABUJA.

T”he Chief Judge of Cross River State, His Lordship Hon. Justice Akon B. Ikpeme on Monday the 13th day of September, 2021 held an emergency meeting with Judges of the Cross River State Judiciary.

“Highlights of the meeting were as follows:

1. The Hon. Chief Judge advised Judges to be wary of issuing indiscriminate ex-parte orders, and

2. She also advised the body of Hon. Judges in the State against unnecessary assumption of jurisdiction.

3. The Chief Judge further advised that Judges should be careful not to continue with matters already handled by Courts of coordinate Jurisdiction.

“This is for the attention of all stakeholders in the Justice delivery Section of the State.”

Edem Okokon, ESQ.
CHIEF REGISTRAR

Recall that the CJN, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, had demanded the records of proceedings in all the suits from which conflicting ex parte orders emanated in the aforementioned States. They were conflicting orders from the High Courts of the States on the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party.