The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun will only activate the disciplinary powers of the National Judicial Council (NJC) if a petition is brought to the NJC against any judicial officer.
This position was made known today by the Media Aide to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mr. Tobi Soniyi when asked whether the Chief Justice of Nigeria would summon the judge in the middle of the alleged miscarriage of justice in the trial of defendants in the murder of one Princewill Igbunaju Ikenna, a Youth Pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Ikom, Cross River State.
Asked whether Justice Kekere-Ekun, who doubles as the Chairman of the NJC, would summon the judge to explain the controversy surrounding the bail granted the murder suspects, Soniyi told CITY LAWYER that the Chief Justice would only activate the NJC disciplinary process based on a petition from a complainant.
His words: “The National Judicial Council under the leadership of Honourable Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun only summons judges based on petitions and in compliance with the NJC guidelines.”
CITY LAWYER recalls that one Ernest Onyeka, the younger brother to the deceased, had in a viral video detailed how the prime suspect in the murder case – one Pastor Uchenna Peter Chinweikpe - was granted bail by Justice Ashu Ewah, the presiding Judge of Court 1, Ikom Division of the Cross River State High Court, even as the trial had been stalled for a long time.
He said: “It’s been over two years now, and we’ve not gotten justice. This judge (showing photo) released Pastor Peter on health grounds. That same week, we saw him preaching in church. How is that justice?”
He also lamented repeated adjournments, the judge’s six-month leave, and what he called a deliberate effort to stall the trial. “The judiciary in Cross River State has failed us,” he said. “Today, it’s Princewill; tomorrow, it could be anybody.”
Meanwhile, following the national outcry that trailed a viral video on the stalled murder trial, the Cross River State Ministry of Justice has directed the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Cross River State Ministry of Justice, to take over the prosecution of the case.
The ministry also revealed in a press statement that at least three suspects are on the run, even as it has sought the assistance of the State Police Commissioner to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
The press statement reads:
“The Information in CHARGE NO. HM/9C/2022 – INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE V. UCHENNA PETER CHINWEIKPE AND VALENTINE ALLOYSIUS (AKA MY FATHER MY FATHER) was filed by the Nigerian Police Force, Zone 6, in October, 2022 at the Ikom Division of the Cross River State High Court and is being prosecuted by a Police Prosecutor.
“The matter had progressed considerably from October 2022 to 31st of January, 2023, within which time, the prosecution called three witnesses and thereafter the matter was adjourned till the 21st of February, 2023 for continuation of examination in chief and cross examination of the 3rd prosecution witness. The adjourned date taken on record, was however brought forward to the 7th of February, 2023 by the court. This date was communicated to the Police prosecutor a couple of days prior, but the prosecutor was otherwise engaged in Akwa Ibom State in another matter and unable to attend court.
“On the 7th of February, 2023, the presiding Judge of Court 1, Ikom Division of the Cross River State High Court, Hon. Justice Ashu Ewah, before whom the Charge was pending, sat and took an already pending motion for bail, which had been opposed by the prosecution and granted the defendants bail on health grounds, albeit with the prosecutor not in court and thereafter set out on a national assignment, to sit in an Election Petition Tribunal, resulting in his inability to hear the matter for an extended period of time.
“The matter came up on three occasions thereafter, but due to the absence of the Presiding Judge who was on National Assignment, it could not be heard. The nominal Complainant, being dissatisfied with the progress of the case and the decision of Hon. Justice Ashu Ewah in granting the Defendants bail, wrote a petition dated the 22nd of March 2024, to the Honourable, the Chief Judge of Cross River State, requesting that the case be reassigned to another Court, this Petition was received in the Chief Judges Chambers on the 15th of April 2024.
“Upon receipt of the Petition, the Case file was forwarded to the Chief Judge, who after considering the petition alongside the response to the petition made by Hon. Justice Ashu Ewah, on the 9th of May, 2024, signed an order, reassigning the case to Court 2 of the Ikom Division of the Cross River State High Court, in the interest of Justice.
“For some inexplicable reason, the Deputy Chief Registrar of Court, saddled with the duty of transmitting the Case file to Court 2 of the Ikom Division of the Cross River State High Court, pursuant to the Honourable Chief Judge’s order failed to do so. The erring court staff was queried in September, 2025, during the annual vacation of the judiciary, when this sorry state of affairs was discovered and is now being referred to the Cross River State Judicial Service Commission to face disciplinary proceedings.
“The case is now pending before Court 2 of the Ikom Division of the Cross River State High Court, the case file having been reassigned there, pursuant to the Honourable Chief Judge’s order and came up on the 13th of October, 2025 for re-arraignment of the Defendants. The first Defendant Uchenna Peter Chinweikpe, although represented by counsel, was however not in Court on that date and the matter was consequently adjourned till the 21st of October, 2025.
“The Attorney General of Cross River State has in the interest of justice directed the Director Public Prosecution, Cross River State Ministry of Justice, to take over this matter forthwith, for effective prosecution and to ease the minds of the Nominal Complainant, as well as members of the General Public
“The office of the Attorney General of Cross River State, has been in contact with the victim’s family through his younger brother Ernest Onyeka Igbonaju and appraised him on the steps taken since this matter came to the attention of the Ministry of Justice. So as to effectively and completely prosecute this matter, the office of the Attorney General has also been in contact with the Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command and requested assistance in arresting three other suspects, said to be complicit in this despicable crime namely, Elvis Ntui, Pastor Effiong and one Barry, who have all fled and have been on the run since.
“The Ministry of Justice sympathizes with the family of the late Princewill Igbunaju Ikenna and assures them and the general public, that this matter will be diligently prosecuted and that Justice will indeed be served in it.”
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