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Amaechi Seeks ICT, Training For Judiciary
Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, says his administration will partner with the judiciary on improving its Information Communication Technology (ICT) and manpower training.
The Governor made the pledge during a special court session to mark the official commencement of the 2010/2011 Legal Year in Rivers State at the weekend in Port Harcourt.
Amaechi asserted that it was one way to upgrade the status of the judiciary to work effectively and at the same time match modern practices as obtained in other countries.
He stressed that regular training and re-training of judicial officers would also add to quality justice delivery and promised that his government would support the third arm of government in making sure that its staffers were trained within and outside the country.
Rt Hon Amaechi also stressed the need for the establishment of more courts, “the first phase of the new city will commence this January, so, I will urge you to take the opportunity by establishing more courts in that area.”
Speaking earlier at the church service held at St Cyprian’s Anglican Church, Rt Hon Ameachi pledged to partner with the judiciary in the development of the state.
In his words, “I promised at an earlier event that if fund is what determines the independence of the judiciary, that I would give the judiciary all the money they need”.
He further asserted that, “the executive would obey the law and would implement all judgements coming from the judiciary even if we disagree”.
The Governor enjoined judicial officers to always be courageous in the discharge of their duties. “In the face of challenges and temptations, our judges and magistrates must be courageous in the dispensation of justice. Be rest assured that if you discharge your responsibilities according to your conscience, you can sleep peacefully,” he said.
Delivering his sermon, Anglican Bishop of Evo Diocese, Rt Rev. Innocent Ordu harped on the need for judicial officers to dispense their duties with the fear of God.
Bishop Ordu cautioned them to avoid any form of conduct that would tarnish the credibility of the legal system noting, “God himself delights in justice because justice is more acceptable than sacrifice”.
In his remarks later, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Iche Ndu lauded the Governor for releasing funds to the judiciary.
Justice Ndu stated that Governor Amaechi had displayed exceptional quality in making sure that the judiciary was efficient and remain independent in the state.
He assured that once this year’s funding got on stream, the judiciary would embark on massive ICT overhaul especially through the electronic satellite and recording system.
He added, “at the moment, over 50 judicial officers have undergone a special IT training for staffers.”
Justice Ndu, however, called for improvements in the status of the prisons, lamenting that despite carrying out numerous gaol delivery, the conditions in the Port Harcourt prisons were still not conducive due to congestion.
The same view was expressed by the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Rivers State, Patrice Ukposi who called for quick prison reforms in the country.
Barrister Ukposi also charged the police to improve on their investigative mechanisms in order to reduce the influx of suspects at the prisons.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the State, Barrister Worgu Boms has advocated for ethical conduct amongst the members of the bar.
Boms frowned at the increasing spate of unethical practices by members in a bid to make quick money.
He warned that if such conduct continued, lawyers would inadvertently erode the core values of the justice system built on credibility, good conduct, character and professionalism.
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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
News
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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