BREAKING NEWS, Judiciary
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ENUGU State has a new acting chief judge. Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State on Friday, October 7, appointed Justice Priscilla Ngozi Emehelu, as acting chief Judge of the state, to replace Justice Innocent Umezulike, who was recommended for compulsory retirement by the National Judicial Council, NJC.
The NJC indicted Umezulike for some unethical practices.
Emehelu, a former attorney general and commissioner for Justice, was sworn-in after an oath of office administered by Victor Emeribe, the state’s solicitor-general. Until her appointment, she was the most senior judge of the High Court of Enugu State.
Speaking during the swearing in of the new acting CJ, Ugwuanyi said the action was necessitated by last week’s recommendation for the compulsory retirement of the former CJ by the NJC. The governor said Emehelu’s swearing-in is consistent with Section 271 (4) of the 1999 constitution as amended.
“If the office of the chief judge of a state is vacant, or if the person holding the office is for any reason unable to perform the functions of the office… the governor of the state shall appoint the most senior judge of the high court to perform those functions.”
Governor Ugwuanyi further stated that he had received two letters recommending the former chief judge’s suspension and compulsory retirement from office.
“Accordingly, Hon. Justice Ngozi Priscilla Emehelu, the most senior judge of the High Court of Enugu State, has been appointed and sworn-in as the acting chief judge of Enugu State,” Governor Ugwuanyi said at the event held at the state’s executive council hall.
Emehelu, in her response, attributed her appointment to providence and pledged to carry out the responsibilities of her new office to the best of her abilities and with the fear of God.
— Oct 17, 2016 @ 01:00 GMT
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