By Jonathan Ugbal
The National Judicial Council has recommended nine persons in Cross River State for different judicial appointments.
This was part of the resolutions reached at its meeting held on December 14th and 15th where the council also barred three Judges including Justice Edem Ita Kooffreh of the High Court of Cross River State from elevation to higher courts for a few years.
The council “approved the appointment of 63 Judges for 16 States, nine of which are Heads of Court,” read a statement issued by Soji Oye Esq., the council’s director of information.
Four Judges for the High Court of Cross River State were recommended to Governor Ben Ayade for appointment. They are Messrs Daniel Ofre Kulo and Odibu Emmanuel Ekaya, as well as Mmes Rita Otu Marshall, and Obin Blessing Egwu.
Four Judges were also recommended for appointment for the Customary Court of Appeal, Cross River State. They are Messrs Obo Agbor Anthony, Ititim Felix Igobi, Ankpor Jeremiah Arong and Mrs. Eunice Oshim Dada.
A former acting Chief Judge of the High Court of Cross River State, Justice Maurice Eneji was recommended for appointment as the President, Cross River State Customary Court of Appeal. Until this recommendation, Justice Eneji presided over Court 2 of the High Court of Cross River State.
The Governor is expected to forward their names to the House of Assembly for confirmation. It is expected that they will all be confirmed by the House of Assembly, unlike the horse-trading that happened with the appointment of Justice Akon Ikpeme as Chief Judge of the High Court of Cross River State. Upon confirmation, they will be sworn in by the Governor.
Three of the nine have been involved or are currently involved with cases in relation to CrossRiverWatch. While Justice Eneji presides over two libel suits against CrossRiverWatch and its staff, Mr. Ititim is the lead prosecutor in the trial of Agba Jalingo for alleged acts of terrorism and Mrs. Marshall presided over a politically motivated criminal case against two CrossRiverWatch Editors whom she discharged and acquitted despite pressure to do otherwise.