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‘Rivers Judiciary Needs Courageous Judges’

Published

9 years ago

May 27, 2017

As a way of charting a new course for the Rivers State Judiciary in the future, the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has tasked judges and other judicial officers to be courageous in the dispensation of justice.
Wike gave the charge at a special court session organised by the state judiciary to mark Rivers State Golden Jubilee, yesterday, in Port Harcourt.
The governor insisted that it was the only way to sustain justice, and equity in the land even though he acknowledged that the judiciary has made huge achievements in the past 50 years, and stressed the need for all arms to work together to move the state forward.
He said, “We need more of those who are courageous to run the judiciary, especially in the delivery of justice. Intellect is not enough.”
For him, “If you don’t have courage, then justice cannot be done.”
Wike said his call had become necessary considering the fact that many judges are being persecuted by the government, adding that this reason, many of them are shunning cases that are political to avoid being witch-hunted.
In Rivers State, he held that the case was different as his administration will give the judiciary independence and funds to operate as an autonomous arm of government, assuring, “We will not intervene in what they are doing.”
Also as part of measures to give the judiciary the leverage it needs, he disclosed that the state government has acquired land to build houses for retired judges who have served both state and federal governments, as he explained that the gesture was to ensure these judicial officers enjoy some measure of comfort after service.
Earlier, Chief Judge of the state, Justice Adama Inyie Iyayi-Lamikanra, had commended past judges and other judicial officers that contributed to the growth of the state judiciary over the years.
She held that the Golden Jubilee provides for reflection and stocktaking but praised the efforts so far made by the state governor to reform the state judiciary and enforce the rule of law.
Justice Iyayi-Lamikanra said, “The judiciary under the new era is celebrated in all ramifications”, and promised that, “As the third arm of government, we shall support the development efforts of the governor through a strategic approach to justice delivery.”
The state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr. Emmanuel Aguma, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), submitted that the judiciary in the state has passed through dark times, and has survived.
He thanked past leaders of the state who contributed to the growth and development of the judiciary, and promised that, “The next 50 years will be visionary and driven by high technology for efficient delivery of justice.”
Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Onueze Okocha and B.N. Wifa said Rivers State has fared well in the past 50 years in the legal profession.
In the words of Okocha, “The bar has grown in leaps and bounds, and the Port Harcourt Bar has existed before 1967”.
Today, he said, the state has 25 senior advocates, and now the centre of excellence in law practice.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Port Harcourt Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Omubo Victor Frank Briggs, congratulated the chief judge and the state in general for the milestone of clocking 50 years.
Despite few setbacks, the Port Harcourt NBA chairman, noted that the bar has grown over the years to about 5,000 members, adding that it has played great role in development of the judiciary in Rivers State.

Featured

RSG Floats MNET Culture Content Promo

Published

5 days ago

November 6, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism has floated a culture content platform in collaboration with digital television group, Multichoice.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Freddy Ndigbara, disclosed this after a meeting with MultiChoice Head of Content Acquisition, Don Dotun Ojon, in Port Harcourt.

He assured that content entrepreneurs and film makers would enjoy the platform by promoting culture and other contents to sell the states tourism potentials.

He said MultiChoice M-net was now open to increase its patronage for content shots on locations in Rivers State, describing the State as one that has numerous potentials for film tourism.

“We were privileged to have Don Ojon with us at the Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) at the weekend in Bonny and he saw, first hand, the numerous sites and opportunities that are open to creatives in the State. After that, we felt it was important to deepen the conversation and he obliged. This is a cheering news for the sector in the State,” he said.

Ndigbara stated that “Rivers State has many more untold stories to tell, many more contents to reel out and the assurances from the M-net Acquisition Manager is an indication that the industry in the state will soon enjoy a new lease of life”.

The Permanent Secretary thanked Ojon for the visit and assured that creatives in the State would grap this opportunity and show the world that Rivers State is a major hub for film tourism in Nigeria.

On his part, Ojon said the visit was to discuss on ways of promoting tourism in the State using creatives and film.

Ojon said although the company has recently been acquired by canal+ France and is undergoing restructuring, he would promote the chances of Rivers State to host the MultiChoice talent factory in the State.

With Asaba, capital of Delta State, being saturated, Ojon said the next port is Rivers State, which he said is capable of building fresh crop of creatives, new locations, new story lines and concepts.

He, therefore, called for collaboration from stakeholders in the State.

Kevin Nengia

Featured

APC Presidential Campaign Storms PH, ‘Morrow

Published

5 days ago

November 6, 2026

The Tide

Barring last minute changes, the presidential campaign train of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will storm Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, tomorrow.

This is according to a campaign timetable released by the APC Campaign Council last month.

The Tide reports that the APC presidential campaign kicked off in Kaduna on October 24 with President Bola Tinubu in attendance.

The campaign train later moved to Cross River, Gombe, Nasarawa, and Ekiti on November 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively with the Vice President, Kashim Shettima representing the President at the rallies.

President Tinubu is personally scheduled to attend 12 states including Rivers, Kaduna, Plateau, Oyo, Borno, Enugu, Bauchi, Sokoto, Delta, Kano, Adamawa and Lagos.

The Rivers State rally, scheduled to hold at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, is expected to witness a large crowd of party supporters drawn from a coalition of political parties in the State.

The party is expected to round off its presidential campaign in Lagos State on January 9, 2027.

The Tide reports that Tinubu has not visited Rivers State as President since he assumed office in May 2023. His last physical visit to the State was before his inauguration on Wednesday, May 3 – Thursday, May 4, 2023, when he was hosted by then Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt to commission the Rumuola/Rumuokwuta Flyover and the Magistrates’ Court Complex.

Tomorrow’s visit will be his first to the State since assuming office.

Featured

2027: Be Politically Neutral, Fubara Tasks Traditional Rulers

Published

2 weeks ago

October 30, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged traditional rulers in the State to maintain neutrality, ensure fairness and uphold peace in their domains as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.

Fubara gave the charge on Wednesday while declaring open the 126th, 127th and 128th Combined Quarterly Meeting of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, in Port Harcourt.

The governor said the primary function of traditional rulers is to administer justice and ensure fairness, saying their conduct must not lead to division and unmanageable crises.

“Let me therefore, request, if that is the right word to use, that please, as we are entering into this political season actively, everyone should ensure that your conduct promoted peace in your place. Your actions should not be what would lead to the division and multiple crisis that we cannot manage as a government.

“I think with that, we can all live as one and we can also continue to make this progress that we are trying with all our mind, our body and our soul, to ensure that we deliver to our dear State,” he said.

Fubara urged the royal fathers to abide by the oath and constitution they swore to before ascending their respective stools, in the interest of stability and progress of the State.

He also enjoined them to set aside individual sentiments and place the interest of Rivers State above personal considerations, noting that this principle has guided his own day-to-day governance of the State.

“I want to enjoin everyone to keep aside issues of individual sentiments and ensure that the interest of our state supersedes whatever thing that we have in our mind. This is not just what I’m saying here, it is what I’ve also practiced and displayed in my day-to-day life in the governance of our dear State,” he said.

On the appeal for improved welfare for traditional rulers, the governor clarified that the delay in actualising some of the requests they made in the past was not from the government but from the inability of the Council to put its house in order.

Fubara explained that the issue of stipends paid to the traditional rulers by the local government councils, was a statutory benefit provided for in the constitution and not what a state governor can change by mere verbal pronouncements.

He assured that he remains a man of his word and will fulfill his promises to the traditional rulers before leaving office, next year.

He reaffirmed his respect for the traditional institution as custodians of culture and the closest link to the people, thanking them for their prayers and support.

The governor urged the royal fathers to ensure that the combined quarterly meeting featured fruitful deliberations that will strengthen peace and development in the State.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Eze Chike Amadi Worlu Wodo, expressed profound gratitude to the State Government for its efforts in maintaining a cordial relationship with the traditional institution.

Wodo highlighted the importance of traditional rulers in conflict resolution, noting that their closeness to the people places them in a strategic position to mediate in disputes involving chieftaincy matters, family disputes and land ownership in their respective communities.

The royal father drew the attention of the State Government to some challenges affecting the performance of the traditional institution, particularly the lack of official utility vehicles and logistical support needed to discharge its responsibilities effectively.

He also appealed for improved monthly stipends and better welfare provisions to reflect prevailing economic realities.