Rivers
Amaechi Seeks Relocation Of British Visa To PH
Governor Chibuike Amaechi has made a passionate appeal to the British High?Commission to relocate its visa office to Port Harcourt.
?He made the appeal when the British Deputy High Commissioner, Lagos, Mr Peter Carter?paid him a courtesy call on Tuesday in Government House, Port Harcourt.
?In the words of the governor, ” We will be glad if that policy happens, so that people in the South-South can be able to process their visa here in Port Harcourt, because now a lot of people fly directly to the UK’’.
?He disclosed that the state government was ready to provide office to house the new visa operations, positing that the presence of such office will spark fresh business opporttunities and boost relations between?United Kingdom?and Nigeria.
?Assuring him of adequate security in the state, the Rivers State Chief Executive maintained that? the state is safe for any business activity hence the need to review their travel advisory to allow their citizens visit the state and exploit the huge opportunities that abound?in the state.
?Earlier, Mr Carter thanked Amaechi for his style of governance, and pleged his country’s support to the administration to ensure transparency.
?He assured of United Kingdom’s?desire to the quick?passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill which he stressed will lead to an open and transparent oil and gas sector and long term investment benefits to Nigeria.
?Carter also hinted of his country’s support for a transparent elections in 2015, ” we are all aware of the all important election will take place in 2015. UK places huge value on transparent elections’’.Q
?The UK diplomat exepressed the hope that the visit will help smoothen relations and attract more visits as he thanked the governor and the people of the state for their hospitality.
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