News
Wike Urges Judges To Be Courageous To Achieve Independence
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has called on judges to be courageous in order to achieve independence of the Judiciary.
Wike, who made the call on a Live Television interview, Monday, in Port Harcourt, said judicial independence would be hard to achieve if judges are not courageous and determined to uphold the tenets of the profession.
“Independence of the Judiciary does not mean to have more money to go on vacation. It is the freedom to attend to legal matters without fear or favour.
“It is not to be tele-guided on how to deliver judgement. Heads of courts must be able to protect fellow judges instead of succumbing to intimidation.
“Such intimidation has gone far. Now, they use petitions and excuse of insecurity to transfer cases out of a state or from a judge.
“I have told my Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to write to the Chief Justice of Nigeria that such excuses should not be tolerated. If they are saying that it is because of corruption it is for them to protect their own.
“But to use insecurity to transfer a matter out of Rivers State will not be accepted. In fact, we will sue any person who raises such an excuse and demand a proof.
“We cannot operate like that. Courts sit regularly in states like Borno, Kaduna and Plateau where insecurity is high.
“If cases cannot be heard here, then they should close down the Port Harcourt Division of such court”, he stated.
On the Edo Governorship Election, Wike said the deployment of over 300 policemen with Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to his hotel in Benin City was to provoke a shootout with his security aides.
He said the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, knew the nature of the assignment he was to discharge as chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Campaign Council.
“They wanted that provocation to cause a shootout so that they can target me and blame it on the crisis.
“The Inspector General’s action was premeditated because of our resolve to legally challenge the deduction from our revenue for the Police Trust Fund.
“He was also angry over my intervention in the attempted abduction of the former chairman of the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Joi Nunieh by some police officers at her residence by 4am”, he said.
On the Ondo State Governorship Election, Wike stated that while the fight in Edo was against godfatherism, that of Ondo, will be a vote against failed promises by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“To gain freedom, sacrifices will be made. Intimidation will come but the people should be firm to defend their votes,” he stated.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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