Rivers Judiciary Disposed 5,387 Cases In 2011- Chief Judge

The Rivers State Chief Judge, Justice Iche Ndu, says the judiciary disposed a total of 5387 cases out of 16,149 cases in 2011.

The breakdown of the figure shows that 9407 cases were brought forward from 2010, 6742 cases was filed in 2011, while a total of 10,306 cases were still pending both in the High Courts, Customary Court of Appeal and Customary Courts.

Speaking at a special court session to mark the beginning of the 2011/2012 legal year in Port Harcourt, last Friday, the state Chief Judge stated that during the period under review, the rules of the High Court were amended to enable the current rules conform with the present realities.

He stated that last December, two rules of the Customary Court of Appeal and those of Customary Courts were unveiled for effective delivery of justice.

According to him, there were 37 judges and 38 magistrates in the High Courts, while, the Customary Courts of Appeal had four judges and 32 magistrates.

He attributed the huge success achieved by the judiciary on the independence given to it by the state governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi, describing him as different from other state governors in the country.

Also speaking, the state Commissioner of Justice and Attorney-General, Hon.

He urged the judiciary to rise up to the challenge of providing quality justice regretting that corruption had crept into the country’s noble profession.

In their separate speeches, the President of NBA, Joseph Bodurin Daudu (SAN), Chairman, Port Harcourt NBA, Patrice Ukposi called on lawyers to adhere to the dictates of the profession.