Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has lauded the Judicial arm of government on commitment to administration of justice and protection of the oppressed and vulnerable in the society.
Diri gave the commendation in Yenagoa at the reception ceremony and launch of a book titled, ‘Astute Judgements and Essays’ written as part of activities commemorating the retirement ceremony of Justice Nayai Aganaba of the Bayelsa State High Court.
He described Justice Aganaba as an erudite, incorruptible and courageous jurist who triumphed even in the face of daunting challenges, noting that he has known the retiring jurist as a sound legal practitioner many years ago before he was appointed as a Judge.
The Tide learnt that the retiring Justice Aganaba was called to the Bar in 1982 and appointed as a Judge of the Bayelsa State Judiciary in the year 2001 by the first Executive Governor of the state, the Late Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha of blessed memory, and that prior to his retirement after 20 years of meritorious service as a Judge, he had also at different instances served in both election and inquiry tribunals, respectively.
The state number one citizen who also condemned the April, 13, 2022 invasion of the state High Court and attack on the retiring Judge by hoodlums, described the dastardly act as having come from the opposition parties in the state, just as he called on the police and sister security agencies to partner the state and Judiciary by providing adequate security in and around the state Judiciary and for Judges to enable them discharge their Constitutional functions without fear of intimidation.
Diri, who also applauded the State Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri for her steadfastness and commitment to duty as well as efforts to ensure that Judicial officers and Judges were given their rightful places in successive administrations of the state noted that his administration and all arms of government of the state were partners in progress.
“I’ve known Justice Aganaba many years ago as a legal practitioner even in the old Rivers State before the creation of Bayelsa state. He is an astute, incorruptible, erudite and courageous Judge. That was why even when on the 13th of April, just last week when he was handling a case brought to his court by the other parties, amongst themselves even upon the intimidation and treats to his life, he remained courageous.
“I call on the police and other sister security agencies to partner the government in providing adequate security in our court premises and for all Judges to avoid the reoccurrence of what happened on the 13th day of April where hoodlums were reported to have attacked the now retiring Justice Aganaba in his court. I want to again commend the state Chief Judge, the Hon. Justice Kate Abiri for her commitment towards ensuring that Judicial officers and indeed all the Judges in the state Judiciary were properly catered for”, he said.
Speaking earlier at a valedictory court session held in honour of the retiring Judge, the state Chief Justice, Kate Abiri applauded Justice Aganaba,saying he was a respected Jurist who put in 20 meritorious years in service as a Judge, just as she described the Judiciary as the final arbiter of the law.
She also commended the state government for granting the state Judiciary financial autonomy,this was just as she reiterated that those who attacked the retiring Justice Aganaba in while on duty at his court recently would face the wrath of the law.
“As an arm of government,the Bayelsa state Judiciary have enjoyed autonomy. And I make bold to say that the state government has not held back any due us as a Judiciary since the financial autonomy status was granted us. For all those who invaded the sanctity of the court and attacked the retiring Justice Aganaba in his court, here in the state Judiciary,all of them would face the wrath of the law”, she said.
Meanwhile in a special thanksgiving service held as part of activities for the retiring Jurist at the St. Peter’s Deanery, Yenagoa, the Bishop of the Niger Delta West Diocese, Anglican Communion, Emmanuel Oko-Jaja has described retirement as synonymous with Biblical injunction.
In his sermon taken from the book of Numbers 5:10, the clergy with scriptural reference noted that retirement from ones vocation after years of meritorious service is in line with God’s plan for humans,this was even as he commended the state Judiciary for striving for excellence and for its delivery of unbias Justice, irrespective of whom the Judgement was to served.
In same vein,while speaking with Journalists shortly after the event, the retiring Justice Aganaba has reassured his readiness to continue serving the state and nation in any capacity befitting of a retired Jurist, describing himself as one who was naturally called to be legal practitioner and later a Judge.
“Two incidences happened in my life which made me knew that I was destined to be a lawyer: One was in Lagos in 1969 when after giving money to a blind beggar he prayed for me, telling me that I’ld be lawyer. While the second was when I read a book titled the incurruptible Judge and later acted as a Judge in a play during my secondary school years and acted very well as a Judge”, he said.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa