The Governor of Cross River State, Sen Ben Ayade, has given formal approval for the employment of 29 Magistrates into the state Judicial system.
This was disclosed by the Cross River State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Tanko Ashang, on Monday, May 17, 2021, in his office in Calabar.
Barrister Ashang explained further that as a result of the stamp of approval by the governor, the 29 Magistrates will subsequently be issued with appointment letters and then be payroll.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice maintained that the 29 Magistrates who hitherto were employed but were not patrolled because their employment did not follow necessary processes and therefore was irregular.
He went on to disclosed that as a result of this the governor had on January 26 this year constituted a committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu to look into the issue.
Other members of the committee included the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Head of Service of CRS, The Chief Registrar of CRS Judiciary and the Auditor General of CRS.
Barrister Ashang stated further that the committee “after rigorous sittings recommended a list of 29 magistrates for employment to the Governor adding that the Governor has put his stamp of approval to the list bearing the 29 magistrates.
“With this approval, appointment letters will be issued to the new magistrates and they will accordingly be payrolled,” the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice concluded.
Recall that about two years ago, the magistrates were employed into the State Judiciary, however, they were removed along the way and their salaries halted, leading to series of protests by the affected victims.
