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Amaechi Tasks Customary Court Of Appeal …On Correct Interpretation
The Rivers State Government has tasked members of the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal (CCA) to avoid mistakes in interpreting the customs and culture of the people while delivering justice.
Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi made the call yesterday at the inaugural sitting of the Customary Court of Appeal at Rumuogba, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
The Governor said the Court stands out as a specialised one and urged the judges to perform their functions with consideration to the diverse and unique cultures of the people of Rivers State. interpreting the law in such a way that it would not harm society.
He assured them that the permanent structures for the CCA would be built at the new Greater Port Harcourt City, and promised to release all budgetary allocations appropriated for them.
The state chief executive reminded the judges about the existence of a law that prohibits harmful practices, especially against women, and advised them to protect Rivers people against evil practices.
Also speaking, the state Chief Judge. Justice Iche Ndu, said the Customary Court of Appeal has appellate and supervisory role over Customary Court laws and commended Governor Amaechi for his swift action in approving the establishment of the CCA after 21 years of being in limbo.
He described the Customary Court of Appeal as complementing the work of the High Court in justice delivery and enjoined the Judges to live up to expectation by administering justice equitably.
Also speaking, the State President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Peter Agumagu said there are 32 functional Customary Courts in the state headed by trained lawyers, with 830 cases pending in them while 282 appeal cases are pending.
Justice Agumagu said by the establishment of this Court, native laws and customs would be preserved as judgments would be documented for generations to come, and eulogized Governor Amaechi for making history in achieving the feat.
On his part. the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ken Chikere. said the establishment of the CCA would help to decongest the High Courts. and thanked the State Governor for his interest in the growth of the judicial system in the state.
Dr P. C. Osanakpo (SAN) on behalf of body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria said the Customary Court of Appeal has long been awaited and thanked the state government for the decision as it would enhance quick dispensation of justice.

Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (middle) cutting the tape to commission the Aso Savings and Loans office in Port Harcourt, while Mr Collins Chikeluba, director and Mr Hassan Usman, managing director of Port Harcourt branch watch.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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