A-G Blames Politicians For Rivers Judiciary Crisis

The Rivers State Attor
ney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Wogu Boms says the crisis rocking the state judiciary at the moment was blown out of proportion  due to what he described as “political interest “  in the state.
The State Commissioner for Justice stated this when he appeared on Rivers State Television (RSTV) ‘60 minutes’ programme in Port Harcourt last Saturday night, noting that the political interest has taken the place of the law in the matter.
Hon Wogu accused the National Judicial Council (NJC) of assuming the position of a court and acting beyond the limits of its constitutional mandates.
According to him, the constitution only gives the state government the powers to appoint either an acting or substantive Chief Judge of their states adding that the position of a chief judge is a political position.
He averred that the constitution was very definite in the appointment of a substantive chief judge in every state adding that it was wrong for the NJC to scuttle the constitution because of its interest.
The state chief law officer posited that the rule of law must be followed  in the appointment of a chief judge adding that both the JSC, NJC, the executive and the legislative arms must observe the rule of law in the appointment of a chief judge of a state.
He pointed out that the constitution must be applied in the appointment of a Chief Judge of a state as specified by the law.
The commissioner stated that the state governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi followed the laid down constitutional process in appointing Justice Agumagu as the substantive Chief Judge of the state after a high court judgement in the matter.
Hon. Boms maintained that Justice Agumagu is the most senior judge in the state adding that the constitution provides ten years experience as a lawyer as the only criterial for the qualification for the appointment of “a chief judge” .