Cross River orders 30 magistrates owed for two years to stop work
30 Cross River state magistrates who recently protested the non-payment of their salaries for two years, have been asked to stop work by the state government.
In a letter issued by the Chief Registrar of the Cross River State Judiciary, Edem Okokon, and reportedly authorized by the Acting Chief Judge of the state, the state judiciary admitted that government was unable to pay them since they were appointed in February 2019.
Though it is not clear whether the government will re-engage the magistrates, they were however asked to stay at home “until the issue of their salaries is settled”.
The letter read that they were thereby withdrawn from sitting in court till further notice.
The letter noted that there was no conscientious reason to have allowed them without pay all this while as they may be tempted to fall into corrupt practices in order to survive.
It also stated that in fact, there are a handful of reports already received against some of such magistrates; hence the directive.
