Abia Assembly Suspends Chief Judge After Row With Chief Registrar

Abia State House of Assembly in an emergency sitting on Friday announced the suspension of the Abia State Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Uzokwe.

The suspension follows a petition brought before the House against the Chief Judge by a civil society organization, Global Centre for Peace and Justice.

The speaker, Mr. Chikwendu Kalu, while reading the resolution to suspend the Uzokwe said it bothered on the allegation of tyranny and obstruction of the administration of justice, gross misconduct, denigration of the office of the chief judge, embezzlement, amongst others in the state.

The Abia Speaker has mandated Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to appoint an acting chief judge pending the completion of the investigation by the 8 man ad hoc committee which was set up by the House to investigate the matter.

However, Justice Uzokwe’s suspension may not be unconnected with the running bitter battle between her and the State’s Chief Registrar, Benson Anya, who was appointed about 6 months ago.

Reports had emerged On Thursday of an alleged confrontation between Uzokwe and Anya before junior staff at the High court complex along Ikot Ekpene road in Umuahia.

The Chief Judge and the recently appointed Chief Registrar have reportedly been having a bitter battle since last year.

It was learnt that Justice Uzokwe refused to recognize Anya as a Registrar of the court, likewise, the former deposed Chief Registrar, Elizabeth Akwiwu-Chukwu, refused to hand over to the Chief Registrar.

Also, some House members are currently unhappy that they were allegedly sidelined in the process of the Chief Judge’s suspension.

Most of the aggrieved members are those of the opposition party in the state.