NJC Tips Justice Simeon Amadi As 9th Rivers CJ

As the second female Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Adama Inyie Iyaye-Lamikanra prepares for retirement from public service; the National Judicial Council (NJC) has tipped Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi as the 9th Chief Judge of the state.
This follows his recommendation by the NJC to the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, for appointment as next chief judge once Iyaye-Lamikanra vacates the office.
If appointed as recommended, he will also become the third chief judge of the state, to be appointed by Governor Nyesom Wike, after Daisy Wotube Okocha, and the incumbent, Adama Iyaye-Lamikanra.
Both Okocha and Iyaye-Lamikanra are the only female chief judges the state has produced since 1970.
Iyaye-Lamikanra was first appointed acting CJ on January 15, 2016, and remained in that capacity until March 8, 2016, when she was confirmed by the House of Assembly following her nomination by the governor.
The other chief judges of the state were Michael H.F. Holden (1970-1976); Ambrose E. Allagoa (1976-1979); Donald Graham-Douglas (1979-1992); Koripamo D. Ungbuku (1992-1996); Felix N.N. Ichoku (1996-2001); and Iche N. Ndu (2001-2013).
The Tide learnt that the NJC’s recommendations will first go to the governor, who is by law required to forward his nominee to the state House of Assembly for confirmation of appointment.
Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi was among others recommended to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for consideration for appointment as CJ by the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission (RSJSC) after a careful review of their records of service.
However, the NJC, last Friday, released its recommendations, which indicated that Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, was the first choice of the nation’s top judicial decision-making body on issues of administration, personnel welfare, promotion, appointments, discipline, among others.
Announcing its position, the National Judicial Council (NJC) recommended 18 candidates to President Muhammadu Buhari for appointment as Justices of the Court of Appeal.
A statement by the spokesperson of NJC, Soji Oye, last Friday, in Abuja, said the decision to recommend the judges for the various appointments was taken at the 94th Meeting of NJC held on December 17 to December 18, 2020, under the Chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad.
The council further approved the appointment of eight heads of courts, even as it constituted a panel to probe allegations that were brought against a serving judge.

By: Nelson Chukwudi