…Explains Choice Of New Chief Judge
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has hinted on the possibility of establishing a new Judicial Division in the State to reduce the problems associated with justice delivery in some parts of the State.
Speaking when he received a delegation of Okpo Club of Nigeria who were on courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt at the weekend, Governor Wike hinted that a new Judicial Division may be established in Bonny due to its strategic location at the hinterland.
The Governor said the appropriateness of the option will however be studied carefully so that the State is not exposed to torturing legal processes arising from having Divisional High Courts.
On the criticism that has greeted his recent appointment of a Chief Judge the State, Governor Wike said he will not succumb to sentiments over who becomes the next Chief Judge of the State as he has conveyed to the State House of Assembly, the letter of recommendation from the National Judicial Commission (NJC).
“I have conveyed the NJC’s recommendation to the House of Assembly. I am not the one who recommended, mine is to act on the recommendation of NJC. I never wrote letter to NJC, I am not a member of Judicial Service Commission (JSC)”, the Governor explained.
Governor Wike said the names of two most senior judges of the State High Court were submitted by the State Judicial Service Commission to the NJC early in order to avoid the situation of having a Chief Judge in acting capacity.
“Nobody can intimidate me with any kind of sentiment. I will do what is right. We knew the crisis that happened here in this State and people do not want to distinguish it. What was the crisis? JSC submitted Daisy Okocha’s name and Agumagu’s name. Of course, Daisy Okocha was the most senior. But even at that, Agumagu was the President of Customary Court of Appeal. NJC in their wisdom said no, we are going to recommend the most senior judge and recommended Daisy Okocha.
“The then Governor said no, I will not take the recommendation of NJC and went on his own to swear in Agumagu as acting Chief Judge. The Constitution is very clear. It is only the most senior that will be an acting Chief Judge and that was the crisis.
“In this case, there is nothing like acting chief Judge. I don’t want to have acting Chief Judge. I want to do my own thing on time and we did it on time. And JSC in their wisdom submitted two people’s name and NJC recommended one and you are now playing politics that it is the governor.”
