Justice Ikpeme sworn in as Chief Judge of Cross River

The Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade has sworn in Justice Akon Ikpeme as significant Chief Judge of the state.

The State House of Assembly confirmed her as Chief Judge on January 28, 2021. It had initially refused to confirm her twice after she acted as the Chief Judge between December 3, 2019 and March 2, 2020.

The Governor portrayed Justice Ikpeme as a woman with a great conscience and also a covenant child.

He said her swearing-in stops crisis in the state judiciary, which led to two other justices acting as interim Chief Judge of the state. He also said that only God fought her battle and her swearing in will bring stability to the judiciary.

According to him, “Today brings to a close the internal concerns and worries of the people over the stability of the judiciary. We do not need any distraction and want a very stable judiciary.

“Justice Ikpeme is a woman with a great conscience and a covenant child. God’s will has prevailed, no man fought your battle but only God.

“As God touched my heart, so did he touch the heart of everyone to support your emergence. As a child of God, I pray that God will touch your soul and ensure that there is no injustice in the Justice dispensation in the state.”

The National President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Apata, said he is glad that the process has ended.

“I am glad that all the dramatis personae have been able to come to this fantastic outcome that reflects the intendment of our constitution.

“Democracy runs on the three arms of government, they stand independently, but they must also collaborate for it to succeed.

“She is inheriting a judiciary with issues and I am praying she has the wisdom to navigate the stormy waters and uphold the independence of the judiciary which is very critical.”

Justice Ikpeme glorified God for her emergence. She said, “We have kept the past behind us and are moving forward. God has been gracious to us by making this day possible and it will be foolhardy to dwell on the past, we are moving forward.

“God rules in the affairs of men and uses men to fulfill his purposes, so we thank him for making this day possible.”

Justice Ikpeme was born on October 21, 1959 in Cross River State. She was called to the Nigerian Bar and practicing law in Calabar, the Cross River State Capital.

Justice Akon Ikpeme

Ikpeme was first appointed as a judge in the state judiciary on November 16, 1998. She is the second female Chief Judge of the state after Justice Dorothy Eyamba Idem.