Kebbi State
Governor, Atiku Bagudu presents the appointment letter to the new
Chief Judge, Honourable Justice M. S. Ambursa
* Swears-in new Acting Chief Judge
Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, on Friday, sworn-in
Justice Suleiman Ambursa as Acting Chief Judge of the state.
The swearing-in followed the refusal of the State House of
Assembly to confirm the appointment of Justice Asabe Karatu, the
former Acting Chief Judge of the state.
“It baffles me when I read a story on social media that I did
not forward Karatu’s name for confirmation because of her
religion.
“If you could recall, I re-submitted the name of Karatu for the
second time on June 2, 2018 to the House for confirmation as Chief
Judge.
“I was informed that on Aug. 1, 2018, the House refused to
confirm her appointment over alleged alteration of her date of
birth and primary school certificate,” he explained.
He said he lobbied the lawmakers to ensure Mrs Karatu was
confirmed but all effort proved unsuccessful.
He also disclosed how he wrote to the National Judicial Council
(NJC) on his efforts to ensure Mrs Karatu was confirmed by the
House without fruitful outcome, stressing that the refusal to
confirm her was not based on her faith.
The governor, however, urged the new Acting Chief Justice to
ensure proper things are done in the judiciary.
“Our state is at the crossroads now, you must right the wrongs,”
he said.
Earlier, the Speaker, Abdulmumeen Kamba, explained that the
House, not the governor has the power to confirm the appointment of
a chief judge.
“The purported letter mentioned in the story on social media
said to be from the House addressed to the governor was never
written by any member,” he said.
Mr Kamba also condemned the story in its entirety, adding there
was no truth in the allegation of religious bias in the case.
“It is worthy to note that the former Chief Judge of the state
before Karatu was of Christian faith.
“Kebbi state is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious state and
every faith or ethnicity is treated equally,” the speaker said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Ambursa is the
most senior among the judges in the state higher court.
(NAN)