Court voids dissolution of JSC, orders Imo State government to pay salary arrears

The National Industrial Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, presided over by Justice O. Y. Abuse, has nullified the recent dissolution of the Imo State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) by Governor Rochas Okorocha.

The court ordered the governor, Attorney General of the State and Commissioner for Justice and the JSC authorities to pay the claimants their salary arrears, while declaring that they remained members of the commission.

The court also ordered those appointed by Okorocha to replace the claimants, to vacate their offices and stop acting, performing or holding themselves out as the members of the JSC.

In his judgment in suit number NICN/OW/76/2016, instituted by Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), Jude T. U. Nnodum (SAN), Sebastian Ibezxim and Jude Agbugba, Anuwe, he wondered why Okorocha took such decision as though he was not tutored on the unconstitutionality of dissolving the JSC.

He added that a previous judgment delivered by Justice Nonye Okoronkwo in June 27, 2012, stressed that the governor’s action was unlawful.