The decision of Rivers Governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to swear-in a new Acting Chief Judge for the state, in the person of Hon. Justice Peter N. C. Agumagu after the retirement of Hon. Justice Iche Ndu has caused a stir in the state.
Amaechi, who swore-in Agumagu at a brief ceremony inside the Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt Tuesday, according to informed sources had penciled down Hon. Justice Daisy Okocha as Ndu’s successor. She is related to the former chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) O.C.J. Okocha (SAN), a fellow Ikwerre from Obio/Akpor council, which is at the heart of the current political crisis rocking the state.
The Governor was not present at the farewell event organized for the retiring Chief Judge Ndu.
Although, the Chief Judge, who was appointed to the position by former Governor Peter Odili, he continued when Amaechi came on board, however, the Governor was not present at the event, and did not send any representative even though a red carpet had been prepared for him by the organizers.
was sworn in during a brief ceremony. Before his appointment as Acting Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Agumagu was the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Rivers State.
While congratulating the new Acting Chief Judge on his appointment, the Governor however, said that the position would last until the National Assembly approves the candidate recommended by the State Chief Judge by the National Judicial Commission (NJC).
The Governor said: “Let me congratulate you on your appointment. I sat through the week with the Attorney General to review the appointment and we looked at the constitution and the constitution says the most senior Judge of the High Court and we looked at your appointment as a Judge of the High Court and compared it to the rest of the judges in the state and realized that you are the most senior judge of the high court of Rivers State. We therefore took that decision to proceed with the appointment.
“I wish to congratulate you and say to you that you have an enormous assignment in this three months. We are proceeding with that while waiting for the resumption of the National Assembly and hoping that if they do approve the recommendation of the National Judicial Commission (NJC) we will then proceed with that and we hope that within the three months you are acting, you will discharge your responsibility. Thank you very much and God bless you”.
The retiring Chief Judge in his farewell address in Port Harcourt, had accused government of gross abuse of power and called on judges to be cautious in dispensing justice.
The event was attended by some anti-Amaechi lawmakers, including the minister of state for Education, Nyesom Wike.
“Each of you remained honest and focused in your job; the result is that none of you ever faced the disciplinary trials of the National Judicial Council. Continue to remain upright, fearless but fair and objective in your dispensation of justice, no matter whose ox is gored.
“That is more so now that though 2015 is still far away, the High court are inundated with many political matters.The time is therefore perilous and at such a time, remembers the admonition of St. Paul to the Christians in Ephesus: see then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the times for the days are evil.
“At this time you should pay attention to what they have always do; and that is the granting of ridiculous ex-perte order of injunction.
