Senator petitions NJC, seeks probe of Uyo High Court judge

The Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East, Bassey Albert Akpan, has petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) seeking the probe of Justice Fatun Riman of the Federal High Court, Uyo, Akwa Ibom division over allegation of bias, judicial misconduct and arbitrariness.

Senator Akpan sought the NJC leave to mandate Justice Riman to excuse himself from further hearing the case involving him and Hon. Bassey Etim pending in the Federal High Court, Uyo Division.

Hon. Bassey Etim took Senator Akpan, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to court claiming that he was wrongly substituted in the primary election of PDP in Akwa Ibom State.


Akpan in his petition addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the NJC accused Justice Riman of “bias, arbitrariness and unfairness” in his handling of the case.

Specifically, Senator Akpan noted that the petition to NJC was warranted by “the inauspicious ruling delivered by Justice Riman on 3rd November 2016 which artfully crafted in essence refused our application to amend our statement of defence in terms of our prayers and limited our right to amend to consequentially responding to the Plaintiff’s amended claim.”

He added, “Despite the fact that Justice Riman informed us on 3rd November 2016 after the delivery of the ruling that the said Ruling was ready for collection, His Lordship has refused to avail me a Certified True Copy of the Ruling.

“I’m by this petition respectfully calling on the Council to investigate Justice Riman in respect of these conducts which are unbecoming of a judicial officer and to humbly request that the council restrain him from continuing to handle this matter pending the determination of this petition.”

Akpan insisted in the petition that Riman’s conduct and handling of the case showed complete bias against him and his party the PDP.




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