Rivers
RSG Blames Churches For Society’s Woes
The Rivers State Govern
ment has urged churches to live up to their obligation of praying for the society and those in authority as admonished in the Bible.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari said, during the rededication service of the Rivers State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at Blessed Baptist Church in Port Harcourt, last Sunday, that most of the crises rocking the society were due to the failure of churches to pray fervently and solicited more commitment for sustainable peace and development.
The commissioner re-assured the commitment of the state government to live up to its statutory duty of protecting lives and property and sustenance of good governance.
She commended the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) for rededicating the union to God, and thanked God for saving the lives of journalists in Rivers State in the course of discharging their duties.
The officiating minister at the Blessed Baptist Church, Rev. Ibinabo Briggs, in his sermon, stated the need for individuals and organisations to embrace God in all their activities.
He commended the Rivers State Council of the NUJ for the rededication service, stating that the initiative would roll off positively on the union.
Rev Briggs also stated that the church should be given opportunities to participate actively in governance, adding that the universal church would not relent in its responsibilities to pray for those in power.
The cleric also commended the Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi over his development strides in Rivers State.
In his remarks, the chairman of the Rivers State Council of NUJ, Mr Opaka Dukobo said the yearly thanksgiving and rededication service, was an initiative of the Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications, domesticated by the NUJ.
He thanked God for protecting journalists during the discharge of their duties in the year 2013, and tasked journalists on commitment to professional duties.
Taneh Bemene
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