AN Owerri High Court on Wednesday declared null and void the sack of the four-member Imo Judicial Service Commission (JSC).Governor Rochas Okorocha had last year sacked the Commission’s members when their tenure was yet to end.
In his ruling, Justice Nonye Okoronkwo declared that a mere resolution of the state House of Assembly to Okorocha to sack the JSC members last year not on the grounds of incompetence or misconduct, was improper and unconstitutional.
He ruled that the action of the governor was a grievous interference on the constitutional rights of the Commission according to Section 202 of the Constitution, stating that Section 191 of the same Constitution provides “specific tenure” of office of commissioners.
Those JSC members who had been removed included: C. E. Igwe, Justice Jonas Obasi Iwuagwu (rtd), Prof. Thomas O. C. Ndubuizu and Nkem Nwankwo.
The sacked panel members, who were appointed by the immediate past governor, Ikedi Ohakim, challenged the action in court.
Okoronkwo ruled: “I have found the action of the state governor purportedly to remove the claimants as unconstitutional and cannot hold. “The November 15, 2011, sack letter from the governor is illegal and unconstitutional and, therefore, null and void”.
He further restrained Okorocha from “appointing and recognising” another group of people to replace the claimants, awarding the sum of N50,000 to each of the plaintiffs.
Reacting, the duo of Igwe and Nwankwo said the judiciary remained the hope of the common man in the country, commending the verdict.
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