End Of JUSUN Strike In Rivers, Not In Sight – Lawyer

A Port Harcourt-based le
gal practitioner, Chief Obinna Amadi has said that the end of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria’s (JUSUN) strike in Rivers State is not in sight.
Chief Amadi, who stated this while speaking with The Tide in Port Harcourt recently, pointed out that there was incremental rise in crimes in the state resulting from the closure of courts.
The Port Harcourt lawyer noted that with the legislature in coma and the courts on strike it was not unexpected the crime rate would rise.
He explained that with both the state government and the National Judicial council doing nothing about the strike, there was no gain-saying that the end of the strike was not in sight.
Chief Amadi described as pathetic, the conditions of accused persons, who had been remanded in prison custody awaiting trial.
He said it was a tale of woes for lawyers who were finding it difficult to make ends meet as they no longer go to court.
The Port Harcourt lawyer pointed out that the JUSUN strike had delayed the dispensation of justice as he noted”, justice delayed is justice denied.
Chief Amadi attributed the lingering judiciary crisis to the succession to the sit of Rivers State Chief Judge following the retirement of the former Chief Judge, Justice Iche Ndu.
According to him, it is normal when there is a vacuum, the executive has to send the list of the nominees to National Judicial Commission for recommendation upon which the chief judge is chosen.
He said the executive had chosen justice P.N.C Agumagu contrary to the recommendation of the NJC.
Chief Amadi explained that Justice P.N.C. Agumagu had been serving as the president of the customary court of Appeal, a rank which he described as the equivalent of a chief judge.
The Port Harcourt lawyer said the NJC had recommended Justice Daisy Okocha as the successor to Iche Ndu, which ran contrary to the choice of the state government.
He said the situation had resulted in court actions until JUSUN slammed its strike on Rivers Judiciary over whom orders should be taken from as chief judge.
He also stated that JUSUN nationwide embarked on strike to demand for financial autonomy.
He described financial autonomy as worthwhile and noted that the funding of the judiciary ought to be from consolidated revenue fund.
He called on all to join hands to ensure the JUSUN strike in Rivers State is resolved.

Traditional rulers at a summit on traditional justice system reform in Dutse, Jigawa State recently.

Chidi Enyie/Sowari Ogolo