City Crime

Rivers State Judiciary And Access To Justice

Published

5 years ago

March 17, 2021

According to Black’s Law Dictionary (nin-th edition) Access to Justice is “the ability within a society to use courts and other legal institutions effectively to protect one’s rights and pursue claims.”

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) considers access to justice as “the ability of people from disadvantaged groups to prevent and overcome human poverty by seeking and obtaining remedies through the justice system, for grievances in accordance with human rights principles and standards.”

Access to justice is an important aspect of the rule of law without which its tenets become moonshine. It is the lever with which any given justice system revolves. Indeed, access to justice is so important that it has become a basic right.

Unfortunately, many governments really do not understand that they sound rather hypocritical when they claim to maintain the rule of law without access to justice.

When there is access to justice, aggrieved individuals or parties can go to court and get remedies for civil or criminal wrongs meted against them: where there is a wrong, there is a remedy.

The insistence by Nige-ria’s apex court, the Supreme Court that processes be filed electronically to engender interactions or communications between it and practicing lawyers is a welcome development. Electronic filing if properly followed, is expected to facilitate justice administration.

Again, this development is laudable as it has narrowed the chances of impersonation by non-lawyers.

It is important to note that speedy dispensation of justice is one of the cardinal principles of the rule of law. This is because justice delayed is justice denied. But the e-filing in the state has been fraught with so much delay. Filing a motion exparte as a matter of urgency has become difficult under the new arrangement.

Access to justice is hindered or denied when there is unreasonable delay in bringing issues of urgent attention to the court. Delay defeats equity and makes nonsense of injunctive remedies. Under the present e-filing regime there is an unreasonable delay in the assignment matters to courts.

Section 17(2) (e) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended provides thus: “independence, impartiality and integrity of courts of law, and easy accessibility thereto shall be secured and maintained. “

Despite the express provision of the constitution, access to justice has been whittled down by many factors in Nigeria’s judicial system. One of the problems facing our judicial system is corruption. Many judges are corrupt and justice is for sale to the highest bidder. That is why judges in different courts with coordinate jurisdiction often churn out contrasting judgments on the same subject matter without compunction about abuse of court processes.

Many members of the Port Harcourt branch of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have complained of the high cost of filing processes electronically at the Rivers State Judiciary’s Information Communications Technology (ICT) Centre and the delay it has occasioned.

The process of procuring justice must be affordable because if it becomes expensive and unaffor-dable, the aim of justice for all is blatantly defeated.

Justice Black said “there can be no equal justice where the kind of trial a man gets depends on the amount of money he has.”

The cost of litigation has worsened the plight of the common man who seeks remedy for either civil or criminal wrong.

A Port Harcourt based lawyer and human rights advocate, Chinoye Okoha Esq, who spoke with The Tide in Port Harcourt at weekend said, “e-filing is causing untold hardship to practicing lawyers.”

Mr Okoha explained that the purveyors of the e-filing might have had a good intention about the process but expressed surprised that nothing had been put in place to ameliorate the hardship faced by lawyers.

He described the process as satanic and expressed shock that even the purveyors hadn’t done anything to better the situation.

The Port Harcourt lawyer remarked that e-filing was a major impediment to access to justice.

Mr. Okoha noted that lawyers went through excruciating and harrowing experience to make e-payments.

He urged the leadership of the NBA to do a feedback on e-filing to the authorities of the Rivers State judiciary so that they could chart a way out of the lock jam.

He said access to justice would continue to be hindered unless the NBA confronted situation frontally and squarely.

He expressed regret that even affidavits at the Rivers State Judiciary could only be obtained by electronic means which often delayed or denied citizens’ access to justice.

Also speaking, another Port Harcourt based lawyer, Chijioke Agi Esq remarked that e-filing had blocked valuable income for practicing lawyers and averred that NBA was not doing anything to change the scenario.

He said that it was unfortunate that the bar was suffering and smiling in its present predicament.

“Everyone knows that this experiment isn’t working yet nobody wants to do anything,” he stated.

“We are not unmindful of the fact that the bar is having it rough under this e-filing regime but everyone is keeping quiet. We can’t continue like this”, Agi said.

Today access to justice in Nigeria remains a mirage so long as independence of the judiciary is a far cry. Access to justice can only be guaranteed when the judiciary is truly independent.

Justice Chukwudifu Oputa JSC (in blessed memory) in capturing the elusiveness and hopelessness of justice in Nigeria put this way; “In his search for justice and redress resulting in the effectuation of his rights, the ordinary citizen of Nigeria is caught up in the mess of rather vicious circle.”

Unfortunately, in Oputa’s time the tumour of lack of access to justice was benign but it has grown steadily to become malignant in the present time.

It is hoped that concerted action by the Bar and Bench will salvage our already decadent judicial system and restore access to justice.

By: Chidi Enyie

City Crime

Ministry Raises Concern Over Rising Teenage Pregnancies, Begins Adolescent Sensitisation Campaign

Published

2 days ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

The Department of Public Health in the Rivers State Ministry of Health has raised concern over the increasing cases of teenage pregnancies in society as it intensifies efforts to educate adolescents across the state.
Programme Manager for Adolescent Health and Development in the department, Mrs. Tammy Briggs, expressed the concern during a sensitisation programme held at Government Girls Secondary School Rumueme in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Briggs explained that the campaign was designed to educate adolescents on the dangers of teenage pregnancy and other health-related issues affecting young people.
According to her, teenage pregnancy is currently on the rise, making it necessary for the ministry to step up awareness programmes among students.
“This is something that is on the rise for now. We have observed that there are many cases of teenage pregnancies, so we are here to sensitise them on ways to prevent it entirely,” she said.
She disclosed that the sensitisation campaign is being carried out in selected schools across four local government areas of the state, namely Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area and Eleme Local Government Area.
Briggs noted that the programme focuses on several key issues affecting adolescents, including sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, emotional health and proper nutrition.
She added that the outreach programme also featured tuberculosis screening for students as well as the distribution of sanitary pads and mathematical sets to support their health and academic development.
The programme manager commended the management of Government Girls Secondary School Rumueme for their cooperation and support in hosting the sensitisation exercise. She also advised the students to avoid behaviours that could jeopardise their future.
Speaking during the session, Dr. Nwadike Chinonso urged the students to make informed decisions about their lives and remain focused on their education.
He cautioned them against engaging in early sexual activities, stressing that abstinence remains one of the most effective ways to prevent sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies.
Some of the students who participated in the programme expressed appreciation to the team for the awareness campaign and pledged to apply the knowledge gained to make responsible life choices.

City Crime

PH Ring Road: The October Delivery Promise

Published

2 days ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

The recent assurance by the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, that the ongoing Port Harcourt Ring Road would be completed by October this year has rekindled hope among Rivers people. For many people of the state who have endured months of disruption and uncertainty, the promise comes as a breath of fresh air. The importance of the project cannot be overstated; it represents not just a road network but a vital artery for economic activity and mobility across the state.

Stretching across six local government areas—Port Harcourt, Obio-Akpor, Ikwerre, Etche, Eleme, and Ogu-Bolo—the project covers about 50.15 kilometres and includes six flyovers. Initiated in July 2023 and executed by Julius Berger Nigeria, the ambitious undertaking was conceived to ease traffic congestion, stimulate economic growth, and improve connectivity between communities.

However, the project’s journey has not been smooth. When construction stalled last year, many residents who depended on the affected routes found themselves in severe difficulty. Commuters, traders, and transport operators suddenly had to navigate half-finished sections, diversions, and rough terrain.

Perhaps nowhere has the hardship been more visible than around the Ogbogoro axis, where residents continue to face daily inconvenience. For many families, the unfinished road has turned routine travel into a gruelling ordeal. Long detours, damaged vehicles, and rising transport costs have become the bitter reality.

The scale of disruption was significant. Houses were demolished to make way for the road expansion, businesses were displaced, and livelihoods were interrupted. While such sacrifices are sometimes inevitable in large infrastructure projects, the prolonged delay left many people in dire straits.

It is therefore understandable that the governor’s renewed commitment has been greeted with cautious optimism. For residents who have borne the brunt of the disruption, the promise of completion offers the prospect of relief and restoration. In many quarters, hope is gradually replacing frustration.

When finished, the Ring Road is expected to give the state a much-needed facelift. In a nation where several public projects have suffered abandonment over the years, many feared the same fate might befall this landmark development. That concern is precisely why the latest assurance has struck a chord with the public.

Governor Fubara’s recent inspection of the project site and his firm declaration that the road would be delivered by October have helped steady public confidence. Actions such as these signal seriousness and accountability—qualities citizens increasingly demand from public officials.

Nevertheless, while the governor deserves commendation for the renewed momentum, the task before him goes beyond this single project. Other initiatives already commenced under his administration, as well as those inherited from previous governments, should also receive the attention required for completion.

Indeed, governance is a collective enterprise. Stakeholders across the state must rally behind the administration to ensure progress is not hindered. Political actors, community leaders, and civil society groups all have a role to play in creating the environment necessary for effective governance.

Rivers State has endured its fair share of political turbulence in recent years, and infrastructure development has sometimes been caught in the crossfire. It is therefore imperative that institutions such as the Rivers State House of Assembly work constructively with the executive arm so that citizens can finally enjoy the dividends of democracy.

The earlier six-month halt during the period of emergency rule should serve as a lesson. Infrastructure projects of this magnitude cannot afford prolonged interruptions. The governor must therefore ensure that such setbacks do not recur, and that other projects under his watch do not suffer a similar fate.

Regular site visits and close monitoring of the contractors will also be essential. Such oversight will not only accelerate progress but will demonstrate to the contractors and the public alike that the government considers the project a priority.

Beyond the physical structure of asphalt and concrete, the road carries broader economic promise. Improved connectivity among the affected local government areas will facilitate trade, reduce travel time, and open new opportunities for businesses. It will also enhance access to markets, schools, and healthcare facilities for thousands of residents.

Ultimately, meeting the October deadline is only half the task. The quality of the work must meet the highest standards to guarantee durability and safety for the countless commuters who will use the road daily. The security of the construction workers must also remain paramount to prevent kidnapping or other threats. Delivering the Port Harcourt Ring Road on schedule, and doing it well, would indeed be the right step forward for Rivers State.

City Crime

SWAN Condoles Aquatics Federation Over President’s Death

Published

3 days ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has commiserated the Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAqF) over the passing of its President, Mr. Chamberlain Nnamdi Dunkwu, on Saturday.

In a letter of condolence by the Association’s Secretary-General Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo dated March 7, 2026, addressed to the Executive Board of NAqF, SWAN President, Mr. Isaiah Benjamin, expressed shock, and described his demise as a painful loss to the entire sporting fraternity.

Part of the letter reads, “The news of his demise came as a profound shock and a painful loss not only to the Federation but also to the entire Nigerian sporting community. His leadership, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the growth and development of aquatics sports in Nigeria will always be remembered and appreciated.

“During his brief time as NAqF President, he worked tirelessly to promote aquatic disciplines, inspiring athletes and administrators alike while strengthening the foundation of aquatic sports in the country. His vision, passion, and service to Nigerian sports have left a lasting legacy that will continue to guide the Federation for years to come.

“At this difficult time, my thoughts and prayers are with the Executive Board, members of the Federation, his family, and all who were privileged to work with him. May God grant everyone the strength and fortitude to bear this great loss, and may his soul rest in perfect peace.

“Please, be consoled and know we are with you in prayers, at this time and always.”

Mr. Dunkwu who died on a day the Federation scheduled a talent discovery event tagged, “Swim To The Future”, was elected as NAqF President few months ago.