The acting Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Daisy Okocha, has advocated for move deployment of police personnel across the various courts in the state.
Justice Okocha stated this during a meeting she held with the State Commissioner of Police and Judges in her office in Port Harcourt security.
She said that the deployment of mere policemen to the courts would not only promote efficient delivery of justice administration, but would enable the judges and other judicial workers discharge their duties without fear and favour.
The acting Rivers CJ remarked that the essence of the meeting with the police commissioner was to find absolution to the security challenges confronting the judges and the judiciary workers at large.
According to her, the police occupy very important role in the administration of justice in the society. She therefore appealed to the state Commissioner of Police to provide more police personnel to courts and the judges quarters to guarantee their safety in the discharge of their duties.
The acting chief judge told the state police boss that due to the security challenges the judges faced in the state, it judges posted to Okehi, Degema and Isikpo are finding it difficult to discharge their duties in respective division.
“Last time we had a nasty experience with the bombing of some courts in the state, Okehi, Degema, Isiokpo and Ahoada. The state government has renovated the affected courts, but judges are scared of resuming to work. How can they resume with there security challenges of kidnap threats,” she said.
“A judge was also moved in a commission of inquiring and since then he had been receiving several threats messages”, she added insisting that judges an the families needed adequate safety to enable them do their work without fear or favour, Justice Okocha, however used the opportunity to intimate the state police boss on some issues affecting justice administration including lack of proper investigation of cases by police officers dishonouring of court invitations and interference into civil matters by police officers.
Justice Daisy urged the Rivers CJ to ensure that the police and judiciary have good relationship for effective justice administration in the state.
Responding, the state commissioner for police, CP Musa Kimo thanked the acting chief judge for the meeting and assured her of the continued support of the police to the judiciary in the state.
The police commissioner noted that the police and the judiciary have a symbolic relationship, adding that he would look into the problems enumerated despite the challenge of lack of man former in the force.