Still smarting from the ruling of the National Industrial Court sitting in Owerri, that it erred in seeking to slash pensioners pay by 60%, the Imo State government suffered another defeat in the court presided over by Justice Olufunke Anuwe.
The court nullified Governor Rochas Okorocha’s recent dissolution of the State’s Judicial Service Commission.
Justice Anuwe, in her judgement, declared the dissolution unconstitutional, null, and void; adding that the Chairman and members of the dissolved commission be re-instated.
Those appointed to replace the returning members were sent packing and ordered not to act in anyway; while the returning members are to get arrears of their salaries, emoluments and entitlements.
She referred the State government to a previous judgement which had nullified a similar action by the State Governor in the past.
“In the previous judgement delivered by Hon. Justice Nonye Okoronkwo on June 27, 2012, the first defendant (governor) was adequately tutored on the unconstitutionality of removing members of Imo State Judicial Service Commission without complying with procedures stipulated in the constitution.
“I do not expect that after such an incisive and educative judgement, the governor should still be found committing the same unconstitutional and unlawful interception.”
It was not clear at the weekend if the state government would take the judgement lying low or would proceed to appeal it.