The Cross River Judicial Service Commission has suspended four magistrates over allegations of corruption, falsification of records, judicial incompetence, drunkenness, and dereliction of duty.
The Secretary of the Commission, Peter Ene, announced the disciplinary action in a statement on Thursday.
He disclosed that the affected magistrates are Ushie Ushang of Port Court, Calabar; Gabriel Ebebe of the Chief Magistrate Court, Edor, Ikom; Gabriel Agana of the Chief Magistrates Court, Effraya, Ikom; and Shadrach Orji of the Chief Magistrates Court 1, Ogoja.
The commission found the magistrates guilty of various acts of misconduct, leading to their suspension without pay. In addition to this, two other magistrates received stern warnings for their actions.
Furthermore, three judicial staff members were also suspended without pay, while a Chief Bailiff was issued a warning letter.
The commission directed all affected outstation magistrates to hand over pending cases to their respective court registrars, while the magistrate in Calabar was instructed to transfer all pending files to the administrative chief magistrate.
Mr. Ene noted that the decision aligns with Section 3, Rule 03305 of the Cross River Public Service Rules, 2004.
He emphasized the commission’s commitment to upholding the integrity of the judiciary, stating,“The commission will not hesitate to apply appropriate sanctions against any erring staff, particularly those saddled with judicial responsibilities.
This will help to safeguard the integrity and accountability of the judicial system and sustain public confidence.”
The Judicial Service Commission reiterated its dedication to maintaining high standards of judicial service delivery, adding that these measures are crucial to restoring public trust in the state’s judiciary.
This development underscores ongoing efforts to curb misconduct and ensure professionalism within Cross River State’s judicial system.
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