Rivers
Expert Decries Quackery In Journalism Profession
A veteran journalist, Dr. Broadfield Michael Jack has cautioned against the activities of infiltrators in the practice of journalism, noting that journalism as a noble profession requires requisite qualification, training and expertise to practise.
Dr. Micheal Jack gave the warning while speaking with newsmen at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Justice in Port Harcourt, recently, shortly after receiving an award as Patron of the Association of Justices of Peace in Rivers State.
He regretted that journalism was one of the most abused professions, and called on regulatory bodies, such as the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) and the Nigeria Press Council (NPC) to rise up to their responsibilities by exerting surveillance over the practice of journalism to check quackery.
Dr. Micheal Jack who is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) also attributed the doldrums in the practice of journalism to lack of freehand and institutional inhibitions by government, and called on journalists to detach themselves from the trappings of power to deliver effectively, noting that journalists were the real hope of the common man.
He emphasised that the Freedom of Information Act, would serve as a bulwark for journalists and media practitioners in general to perform their duties effectively “as they would not be gagged but be at liberty to carry out their ombudsman role”.
Commenting on the role of the Justices of Peace in the society, Dr. Micheal Jack, who was a pioneer Secretary and Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the body in Rivers State, said the body had made enormous contributions to peace building in the society.
The former Special Adviser and senior legislative aide to late Senator I.S. Martins-Yellowe thanked the organisation for the award and solicited for more assistance from government to enable the body function effectively as peace ambassadors.
Taneh Beemene
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