Rivers
Ijaw Group Lauds N’Assembly On 2013 Budget
Ijaw Community in Abuja has commended the National Assembly and the Presidency for their understanding and wisdom demonstrated in the early passage of the 2013 Fiscal Appropriation Bill into Law.
The group’s director of Social, Comrade Jerry Akuru who made the commendation over the weekend at Port Harcourt International Airport Omogwa in Rivers State said the nation had for the first time in several years passed the appropriation bill before beginning of the fiscal year.
“What we have always had in the past years is much controversy, name calling and unnecessary delays in the handling of our national budget. We are impressed,” he said.
Comrade Akuru who described National budget as crucial in the socio-economic life of the nation and its citizens appealed for continued demonstration of such understanding by both arms for the interest of the nation.
The group expressed dismay over what it called distractions of the present administration especially on Petroleum and Niger Delta Ministries headed by Deziani Alison-Madueke and Elder Godswill Orubebe respectively. It urged Nigerians to shun unnecessary accusations against the ministers but to rather contribute towards nation building.
Comrade Akuru who also commented on security and economic sabourtage said bombings in the northern Nigeria by the Boko Haram Sect, kidnapping and crude oil theft would not take the nation anywhere and advised those involved to repent.
He particularly urged christians and muslims in the country to focus on peace, love and exhibit other attributes of the one God both religions profess instead of focusing on what makes them different.
He said if actually those using religious difference to promote disharmony and violence were true worshippers of God, the nation would be better off.
The Ijaw group advised President Goodluck Jonathan to consolidate on the gains so far achieved and give priority to power, security and job creation in the New year.
Chris Oluoh
Rivers
Rivers CJ To Sanction Lawyers Who Refuse To Comply With ADR Compliance
The Rivers state Chief Judge, Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI has given an indication to sanction any lawyer who fail to comply with directive of a judge in the state to transferred a case to Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse for Alternatives Dispute Resolution.
Justice AMADI stated this during a brief ceremony held at the chief judge auditorium in port Harcourt Friday held to hand over certificates of operation to two private ADR chambers on Precarious Dispute Resolution Services and Harmony Arbitration and mediation center .
He urged the two private ADR centres to be diligent in the discharge of their duties and warned against compromising the standard of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR but should observed the regulations set out in collaboration regulation by the state Multi Door Court House.
Earlier in a address, the Director of the State Multi Door Courthouse, VICTOR NWEKE esq, highlighted some of the achievements of the Multi Door Courthouse especially in decongestion of court rooms.
NWEKE while disclosing how the department certified the two private ADR centres called for serious punitive measures be taken against any lawyer who fail to comply with a case referred to Multi Door Court House by a judge or magistrates in the state.
In her acceptance speech on behalf of the two certified private ADR centres, ALICE NIMI commended the State Judiciary and Multi Door Courthouse for the approval and assured that all the rules and regulations spelt out will be followed.
In a related development; the Rivers State Judiciary has assured its readiness to collaborate with Nigerian Securityding Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in using Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve some of the issues in their office.
The state Chief Judge , Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI made the promise when he received in audience the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE OLOWO and his team who paid him a courtesy visit in his office , Friday where issuees ADR utilization took centre stage.
He used the opportunity to brief his visitors on the hurdles judges faces daily in the court room and the need for the decongestion of the court room , stressing that one judge handle more than three hundred cases but that if lawyers and litigants adopt ADR practice court rooms can be releive of the daily congestions.
The state Chief Judge however urged NSCDC to ensure a wider sensitization of the members of the public on the practice of ADR for a better awareness and knowledge.
Earlier in his speech, the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE-OLOWO said the visit was to seek collaboration on the use of ADR in resolving some issues which he insisted would help decongest the courtrooms.
Our correspondent reports officials of the Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse led by the Director, VICTOR NWEKE led the team of NSCDC on a technical session where information on how to the fully in cooperated into the Multi Door Courthouse and operation of ADR will be emphasized.
Akujobi Amadi