By Anayo Okoli

Umuahia-Aba branch of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, has faulted Abia State government on the appointment of an acting Chief Judge for the state.

According to NBA, the government has been committing series of illegalities in the last six months with the appointment of three acting Chief Judges.

It also lashed out at the state House of Assembly for rejecting the nomination of the most senior judge in the state, Justice Ijeoma Offonry, as the substantive Chief Judge without inviting her to the House.

NBA  accused the state House of Assembly of not following due process in the rejection of the judge on two occasions.

Aba NBA Chairman, Mr. Uche Awa, in a statement accused the government of committing illegalities by not allowing both Offonry and Justice N. C. Otti to completely serve out their terms as acting Chief Judge of the state.

In the statement, entitled Illegalities playing itself out in the process to appoint a substantive Chief Judge for Abia State after the retirement of Hon. Justice Ndudim Imo, the NBA said the government was not allowing the judges to complete their tenure before new ones were appointed.