Rivers
Obonoma Community Celebrates Peace After Years Of Chieftaincy Squabble
After years of chieftaincy squabble, the people of Obonoma Community in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State have expressed gratitude to God for the peace and continued existence of their community.
This was witnessed in a thanksgiving service organised by the community at the Glorious Baptist Church Obonoma and led by the Onu-Ekein/Amanyanabo of Obonoma, , King Enenibo-Ofori Dateme Obonogina and his council of chiefs.
Dateme said the service was to thank God for the peace he has bestowed on the community in spite of the fact that some communities founded the same time with Obonoma had ceased to exist.
He use the occasion to declare that the service will be held first week of every new year.
Meanwhile, Obonoma community has concluded plans to build a befitting palace for its kings.
This was one of the highlights of an interactive session held last Sunday in the community.
The stakeholder’s also said that the new road recently constructed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will be expanded to include more communities in the hinterland of the kingdom.
Other highlights include the development of agriculture industry; farming and fishing in the kingdom as well as youth development.
Onu-Ekein/Amanyanabo of Obonoma HRH king Enenibo-ofori Dateme Obonogina told newsmen that the community also plans to institute a scholarship scheme for the youths.
He said the palace will soon institute a programme to promote sanitation and cleanliness in the community.
According to him, effort will be made to ensure that all grasses and bushes are cleared to expose the face of the community, while ministries, departments and agencies will be encouraged to assist in the development of Obonoma community.
Meanwhile, one of the chiefs in the community, Chief Mpakaboari Sydney George has promised scholarship to some youths in the community.
Chief George told newsmen that the sum of #50,000 will be given to one youth each from each of the compounds, while full school fees will be paid to a female student from Ago compound.
Chief George said the installation of Dateme as the king of Obonoma has brought peace and development to the kingdom.
Also speaking, Chairman Community Development Committee (CDC) Obonoma Deacon Faith Lawson Jack, said the event is significant as it has provided opportunity for the people to speak on the issues affecting them.
By: John Bibor.
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