Rivers
Community Cries Out Over Windstorm Devastation
Some residents of Umuoye Community in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State have cried out for assistance following a devastating windstorm that wreaked havoc to the community last Tuesday.
Although, the violent storm which spread across the length and breath of Etche Local Government Area, Umuoye Community was the worst affected by the storm.
Many inhabitants of the community were rendered homeless including the destruction of cash crops and economic trees.
Speaking to The Tide, the Traditional ruler of the community, Chief Richard Oluo expressed shock over the spate of devastation noting that it was the first kind of such in the history of the area.
Chief Oluo while sympathising with the affected families called on the relevant government agencies, public spirited individuals as well as the minsitry of special duties to come to the aid of the victims adding that the windstorm has brought untold hardship to the people.
According to him, attending to the needs of the victims would help them to rebuild their houses and also guard agaisnt the break down of their health as a result of much thinking.
Also speaking, some of the affected indegenes of the community said the windstorm has placed them in dilema and difficulties.
According to Mr Fabian Ulokanjo and Benjamin Anyanwu the effects of the storm have impact negatively both in their social and spiritual life and appealed to the state government to assist them to rebuild their houses deroofed by the storm as well as Agricultural grant to enable them stern the tide of the effect.
Efforts to contact the State Commissioner for Special Duties, Barrister Umunakwe Dickson proved abortive as he was away on official duties outside the state.
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