Cross River loses Chief Judge

The Chief Judge of Cross River State, Justice Okoi Ikpi Itam, is dead.In a statement, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and Senior Special Assistant Media, Mr. Christian Ita, disclosed that Justice Itam died inCalabar, in the early hours of yesterday, aged 63.

The CJ’s death came to many as a shock, as he had on Thursday delivered judgment in a case instituted by the All Progressive Congress (APC) against the state, seeking an injunction restraining the state from appointing caretaker committees for local government councils.

The matter was dismissed in favour of the state, since machinery was on ground to conduct election in councils and incidentally that turned out to be his last judgment on earth.

Early hours of yesterday large number of sympathizers including the state governor, Senator Ben Ayade, thronged the home of the deceased to sympathise with his family.