Rivers
RSG Hails FIDA’s Dev Strides
Rivers State Government says it is happy with the role the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Rivers State branchi, is playing in the state.
The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justic, Hon Worgu Boms, stated this while speaking at the opening ceremony of the 25th anniversary of FIDA, Rivers state branch, with the theme, “FIDA Rivers State at 25: Gaining Momentun” in Port Harcourt, recently.
Boms opined that the uniqueness of women and children in our ever growing society needed to be appreciated, adding that for any society to move to an enviable height, the contribution of women and children must be respected.
He called for proper attention to be given to issues concerning the rights of women especially those that are derogatory and tend to ridicule women and the girl-child in the society.
The commissioner commended the members of FIDA for their commitment to the development of justice administration in the state, and wished them well in their jubilee celebration.
Also speaking the state Chief Judge, Justice Iche. N. Ndu represented on the occasion by Justice C. I. Uriri expressed pleasure for Rivers FIDA for clocking 25 years of advocating for women and children’s rights in the state, adding that the occasion should serve as a period of stock taking for all in the justice administration in the society.
Ubong Emmanuel
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