Some community leaders in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State, have rejected calls to transfer a serving Magistrate in the area.
The communities, in a letter to the State Chief Judge, said the calls to transfer Chief Magistrate, Abam Ikpi Ikpi, is uncalled for.
Some weeks ago, leaders of communities staged a peaceful protest in Calabar and called for the immediate redeployment of Magistrate Ikpi Abam, presiding over the Biase Magistrate for alleged “undue threats to peace and harmony.”
The communities comprised Ugbem, Ekpri Iko, Iwuru Obio Ntan, in Biase local government area.
However, rejecting the said protest, Obort (Engr) Onda I. Onda, from the Enuike (Ehom Central) Village Council of Chiefs, said the three villages, which carried out the protest did not have the mandate to speak for Biase, as there are over 100 gazetted villages in the area.
He described the protest in his letters to the State Chief Judge dated 16th August, 2023 as “deceitful and misleading”, as the issue has to do with contempt and failure to attend court without explanation.
He also informed the state Chief Judge that “most of those criminal cases against them (leaders of the protesters), were instituted long before the Chief Magistrate, Abam Ikpi, was posted to the court.
“The demonstration of these criminal suspects from the three communities (Iwuru Obio Ntan, Ekpri – Iko and Ugbem) is a political gimmick, unjustifiable, fraudulent and mischievous.
“The aim is to rubbish and ridicule the Magistrate court in Biase LGA so that their criminal activities be covered.
“Any attempt to uphold their intention will amount to setting a very dangerous precedent to that level of the judiciary”, he said.
Similarly, HRH Atte Obhort Sunday Eyong, the Atte Obhort of Akpet Nation/Clan Head of Akpet Central as well as Chief Stanley Assem, Secretary General of Akpet Nation/Chief Of Ahoma rejected the protest.
In a separate letter to the state Chief Judge, dated 3rd August, 2023, they informed the Chief Judge “to use your good office to discountenance the protest based on its frivolities”.
They added that they are aware that three chiefs from Ugbem were facing criminal charge before the Chief Magistrate and everybody is equal before the law.
“If bench warrants were issued by the presiding Magistrate against persons guilty of contempt, this is in line with the law.
“It does not give those that committed same, the impetus to protest – scheming to escape from the wrath of the law.
“Those that have pending bench warrant against them should be advised to honourably face the law rather than engaging in superficialities as nobody is above the law”, they said.
