Rivers
LG Approves Stipends For Veterans’ Widows
The Chairman of Etche
Local Government Area, Barr Reginald Ukwuoma has directed the immediate placement of widows of deceased military officers in the area on monthly stipends.
Barrister Ukwuoma gave the directive while addressing members of the Etche chapter of the Nigeria legion during the 2014 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Okehi the headquarters of the local government council, last Wednesday.
The council boss said the gesture was to appreciate the contributions of the fallen military officers in keeping the unity of the country and also cushion the effect of hardship on the widows.
He noted that the monthly stipend would assist the widows to take care some needs of their families adding that the money would be paid at the end of each month starting from January this year.
Ukwuoma remarked the essence of carrying gun by the military officers was to protect the territorial entity of the country and urged youths who were in the habit of carrying illegal arms and for negative motives to stop such acts.
The LGA boss while assuring the support of his administration to the legionnaires in the area announced the release of funds to the organization to purchase uniforms for her members.
In his address of welcome, the Chairman/Commander Nigeria Legion, Etche Area Council, (rtd), Major Samuel Brown noted that the celebration was to honour and appreciate those who took part in various combat operations locally and internationally and also to raise funds for the ex-service men, noting that the fund generated would be used to cater for the welfare of the dependants of the fallen heroes and veterans.
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