Rule Of Law Recipe To Rivers Judicial Crisis -A-G

Rivers State Attorney
General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Worgu Boms says the resolution of the state Judiciary crisis will be faster if the parties adhere to the rule of law.
Hon. Boms, who stated this while speaking with the Young Lawyers Forum  at the auditorium  of the state Ministry of Justice in Port Harcourt recently, flayed that the politicisation of the succession of the Chief Judge following the retirement of Justice Iche  Ndu in 2012.
He said that there was a Federal High Court Judgement in favour of the state government’s appointment of Justice P.N.C.  Agumagu as the state  Chief Judge.
The AG noted that it was not mandatory that the state Chief Judge must be appointed from the  High Court in order of seniority.
He cited states where the Chief Judge was appointed from outside the High Court, as Osun, Lagos and even Rivers State.
Hon. Boms explained that there was nothing limiting the appointment of a Chief Judge to the High Court.
He said qualified lawyer could sometimes be brought from the academia or  other  places and be appointed as chief judges. He said it had  been done in the old Rivers, Osun, and Lagos States.
Hon Boms said  that there had been no crisis  in the past over selection of Chief Judge  and attributed the present crisis to the scuffle  between  Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressive Congress.
The AG also explained  that since the judiciary was shut about four months ago, he had had sleepless nights trying to find solution to the crisis.

Hon Boms noted that the statutory body like National Judicial Commission (JSC)had no power to appoint a Chief Judge of a state but could only recommend after the State Judicial Commission (SJC) had submitted the list of nominees to it.
On when the court will resume, the AG said he was continually meeting with stakeholders to see that the crisis was resolved.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi (left) of Oyo State congratulating acting Chief Judge of Oyo State, Mr Mukhtair Abimbola, during his swearing-in in Ibadan, recently. Photo: NAN