Judge withdraws from rape trial of ex-security adviser to Sylva

Justice Ineikade Eradiri of the Bayelsa State High Court 7 sitting in Yenagoa has voluntarily withdrawn from the ongoing rape trial of Chief Perekeme Kpodoh, former Security Adviser to former Governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva.

It was learnt that the Judge allegedly withdrew from the case over an ongoing investigation of bias and judicial misconduct levelled against him at the National Judicial Council (NJC).

It could be recalled that Justice Eradiri, was the presiding Judge in the two count charges of the alleged rape, in the suit numbered YHC/95c/2018, filed against Chief Perekeme Kpodoh by the State Government.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, Justice Eradiri, who was scheduled to deliver a ruling on an application to disqualify himself from the case, rather announced his withdrawal from the case.

Justice Eradiri was quoted as saying “though I have responded to the allegations of alleged judicial rascality levelled against me before the NJC, I can no longer continue with the case because the issue is already in the public domain and under investigation.”

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Earlier in his petition before the National Judicial Council (NJC), Chief Kpodo accused Justice Eradiri of alleged judicial misconduct without due regard to rules of the court.

It was later learnt that the NJC in a letter confirming the receipt of the petition against Justice I. Eradiri dated 28th of February, 2019 with reference number NJC/S6/BAY HC/9/1/154, assured the petitioner, Chief Perekeme Kpodoh, of speedy investigation.

The Petition accused the Bayelsa High Court Judge of not giving him the opportunity to prove the fact that the rape case brought against him is a clear conspiracy designed by some persons working with the state government to indict him by all mean for political gains.

In the two page petition dated 11th February 2019, Chief Kpodoh had prayed that the National Judicial Council should take appropriate action against the Judge because “I reasonably believe that the conduct of Justice Ineikade Eradiri amounts to judicial rascality for which an appropriate sanction should be meted out on him.”