Rivers
Monarchs Canvass 25% Revenue For N’Delta
The Association of Chris
tian Traditional Rulers of Niger Delta (ACTRUND), has described the region as the least developed and most deprived area in Nigeria.
The national chairman of the Association HRM King Nnamdi Ofoegbu, told newsmen recently in Port Harcourt that the amount of money coming to the region as revenue was not enough to develop the region.
The royal father said that the 13 per cent derivation was like a little drop of water in a mighty ocean, contending that was why the traditional rulers were calling for an upward review of the derivation fund from 13 per cent to 25 per cent.
“The region is the Financial nerve centre of this country, but it is going backward. The traditional rulers are being neglected and things are not working the way it should work,” he said.
He further decried the continuous neglect of traditional rulers in the region both by the state and federal government, stressing that the ancestors were angry and thus had given rise to increasing insecurity in the region.
“The traditional rulers have a work to do to protect the people of the region, but we are not happy the way things are going.”
“Traditionally, the royal fathers are not programmed to leave their domains in search of extra business concern. Today, the policy of the government which has not given the royal fathers and the traditional institutions the power to operate, has necessitated such diversion. “They are not involved in security matters which is why it has been difficult to check crime,” he said.
King Ofoegbu said that the Association was founded in 2004 by God’s command, stressing that part of the objective was to inculcate the culture of prayer as a tonic for the growth of the region as well as revive our youths with positive norms that would enhance their quest for self-reliance and prosperity.
He said periodic prayers and crusade and seminars that would address the yearnings of the people in the nine states, would be held.
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