Rivers
PHCN Blames Illegal Structures For Power Outage
The Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has blamed the long delay in the restoration of power to Mgbuosimini and Federal Estate situated close to Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Port Harcourt on the construction of illegal structures on PHCN right of way.
The Public Relation Officer Diobu Business District of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Mrs Ifeoma Ikejiaku who said this in an exclusive interview with The Tide Thursday in Port Harcourt, said that the situation had made it difficult for PHCN engineers to carry out repair work on dilapidated poles.
Mrs. Ikejiaku said that, the poles which were destroyed by thunderstorm also destroyed a transformer in the area.
She said that, PHCN engineers hard been finding it difficult to get to the site of the affected poles as a result of blockade by illegal structures.
The Diobu Business District PRO who described the situation as dangerous said that the trend should serve us a lesson to those who chose to build houses and erect structures on PHCN right of way.
Meanwhile, Mrs Ikejiaku has described as false the rumour that residents of the affected areas had been billed for the month of March.
She said that what was given to the people as the March bill was a carry over from the previous months, especially those who were owing the company.
It would be recalled that some residents of the areas told The Tide that they were surprised to see PHCN bill for the month of March despite the recently blackout in the area.
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