Equip Customary Courts, NJI Tasks RSG

Administrator of National Judicial Institute (NJI) Justice Umane Eri has called on the Rivers State Government to provide the necessary amenities and infrastructure in the state customary Courts for them to perform optimally.

Justice Eri gave the charge on Monday while declaring open an in-house workshop for chairman and members of customary Courts organised by the customary court of Appeal in Port Harcourt.

The NJI administrator observed that since the customary court are close to the noral populace it needed to be provided with equipments including good incentives for them to administer justice effectively at the grassroots.

He described the judiciary as the last hope of the common man and enjoined the chairman and members of customary courts to show a high degree of intergrity, honesty, industry, fairness and impartiality in the performance of their duties.

By displaying transparency in their dealings, he emphasized that the rural people will develop confidence in the judicial system rather than resort to self help which may lead to anarchy or street justice.

Justice Eri enjoined the customary courts heads to also work hard to eliminate the problem of delay in handling cases brought before their courts.

Earlier in his remarks, President of Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal Justice Peter Agumagu disclosed that the five day workshop is aimed at schooling chairman and member of Customary Courts in their roles as solicitors and advocates or lay men engaged in delivering justice to the local people.

At the end of the workshop, he believed that members and heads of the Customary Courts will be exposed to the tenets and code of conducts expected of judicial officers.

Justice Agumagu expressed appreciation to the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi for his support and love for the judiciary.

He also thanked the Chief Judge of the state and Chairman of Rivers State Judicial service  commission, Hon Justice Iche Ndu for his numerous support to ensuring that the customary courts are efficient.