AG Flays NJC Over Appointment Of Acting CJ

Rivers State government has criticised the National Judicial Commission (NJC) for allegedly attempting to force the state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, to choose a particular candidate as the state’s Acting Chief Judge .

The state Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Worgu  Boms, said  while briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt, last Monday that the state’s judiciary had been politicised and described the action of the NJC as unacceptable.

The commissioner exonerated the state government over the development, adding that unfolding events were a bad precedence that could have been avoided.

The NJC had advised judges of the Rivers State judiciary not to accept the appointment of anyone as Acting Chief Judge from Amaechi, saying Justice Daisy Okocha, who it earlier recommended for the position, must be accepted by the governor.

He said,“It is unfortunate that there are dedicated attempts to politicise the judiciary;  certainly not from our own side. The lawmakers knew that there may not be smooth transition from one Chief Judge to the other and they said in the meantime, the governor is empowered without recourse to anybody to appoint an Acting Chief Judge, whose tenure will only be for three months.

“He can’t reappoint that same person, except on the approval of the NJC. So, the NJC comes in only at the point of reappointing that same person.  In this case, we have not gone to the NJC; we want to appoint another person. The NJC now writes letters to judges; ‘Don’t accept appointment from him unless he appoints a particular person’. If you were governor, would you accede to that? It is not possible.”, he said.

“So, who started the politicisation? I have powers to appoint and you have no business in it; you come to tell me to appoint a particular person; you are neither a court, nor the appointing authority.  It is unfortunate and this is public issue and no hiding about it”, Boms said.

Former member, Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Chief B. K. Amadi (right), receiving an Award from the Secretary, Rebisi Council of Chiefs, Christopher Wonodi, during the sendforth ceremony of the body at Ogbunabali Civic Centre, Port Harcourt, recently. Photo: Obinna Prince Dele