Rivers
Primate In Rivers As Evo Diocese Hosts Church Of Nigeria Standing Committee
The Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, arrived All Saints’ Cathedral, Rumuokwurusi, headquarters of the Diocese of Evo, yesterday for the Standing Committee of the Church of Nigeria which opens in the Diocese today.
The Primate, in company of his wife, Angela, and some bishops arrived the Cathedral by 6.30pm and were received by the Archbishop of Niger Delta Province and Bishop of Ikwerre, Most Rev’d Blessing Enyindah, and his wife, Precious, and the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo, Rt. Rev’d Innocent Ordu and his wife, Chinyere, among other bishops and officials of the church.
On arrival, the Primate went straight to the altar of the Cathedral where he held prayers before another prayer of thanksgiving to God by Archbishop Enyindah for the safe arrival of the Primate and all delegates for the meeting of the Standing Committee which is the second highest decision-making body of the Church of Nigeria.
The Diocese of Evo, Anglican Communion, in Rivers State had earlier in a statement said it was set to host the high-powered Church of Nigeria Standing Committee meeting as well as the National Mothers’ Union Executive meeting from today, Monday to Friday.
The statement, signed by the Chairman, Media and Publicity Sub-committee of the Central Working Committee, Sir Jossy Nkwocha quoted the host Bishop, Rt Rev’d Innocent Ordu, and his wife, Chinyere, as having said that the Diocesan clergy, Diocesan Board and the entire Diocesan faithful are excited and ready to welcome “our dear father- in-God, the Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria (Anglican Communion ), His Grace, The Most Rev. Dr. Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba and his amiable wife, Mama Nigeria, Mrs Angela Ndukuba to the gathering of the apex leadership of the Anglican Church in Nigeria.
He also said Bishop Ordu and his wife welcome with joy the Dean, The Most Rev Ali Buba Lamido, all the Archbishops and Bishops with their dear wives; officers of the Church of Nigeria, all other delegates and guests to this special gathering holding at the Diocese of Evo in the Province of Niger Delta.
The Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike will be the Special Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony on Wednesday, 23rd February at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Rumuobiokani Deanery by 10am.
Chairman of the Central Working Committee, Sir Bright Nda-Owhor said all the archbishops and bishops of the 170 Dioceses in the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion and their wives as well as delegates and special guests, all numbering about 1,000 would grace the five-day event.
The theme of the Standing Committee meeting is: “The Christian’s Dual Citizenship and Responsibilities,” (Matthew 22: 20-22).
Since the Most Rev’dNdukuba took over as primate in 2020, the Standing Committee meeting and national Mothers Union Executive meeting, which holds every February and September, have been hosted by Abuja Diocese, Diocese On the Niger (Onitsha) and Lagos Diocese.
The Diocese of Eva, which is about 12 years old, is the youngest diocese to host the meeting.
Nkwocha said the meeting promises to be a very fruitful gathering of God’s people from all over the country and beyond.
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