The House of Representatives has made a decision to shield judicial officials from executive interference.
This is a follow-up to the passing for second reading of a bill to amend the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, sponsored by Mr. Solomon Bob and six other members of the Rivers State legislature.
Mr. Bob, who was in charge of the discussion, emphasized that the Bill aims to safeguard judicial officials against the executive’s manipulation and misuse.
This according to the lawmaker include, arbitrary or forceful removal from office, without going through the requirement of section 292 of the 1999 constitution as amended.
“The section mandates only an address from a state assembly as being the basis upon which a judicial officer can be removed from office. It’s either such a removal that the officer can be tried by a court of law”, he said.
Contributing to the debate, a member from Anambra State Mr Ifeanyi Momah, suggested that since the code of conduct covers all public officers and not only judicial officers, the house can amend the code of conduct bureau and tribunal Act in isolation from the constitution.
After a voice vote, the house passed the bill for second reading and referred it to the committee on anti corruption.