Rivers
RIVPA Elects New Executive, Gets New Secretariat In Six Months
The Rivers State Independent Newspaper Publishers Association (RIVPA) has elected new officers to steer the ship of the union for the next two years.
The officers were elected on Wednesday at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.
Inaugurating the new officers, the chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Rivers State Council, Comrade Stanley Job Stanley, tasked RIVPA and other affiliate bodies to ensure professionalism ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Stanley also advised the new executive of RIVPA to ensure an all inclusive leadership, stating that it is the only key to succeed as a leader.
In his reaction, the newly elected Chairman, RIVPA, Mike Prince Iwezor promised that within the first six months of his administration, RIVPA would have its secretariat.
He also promised to extend the hands of fellowship to all members of the organisation as well as ensure the welfare of members.
“We promised an all inclusive leadership and to also focus more on the welfare of members of RIVPA”, he said.
Iwezor thanked members of the Credential Committee and members of the association for ensuring a free, fair and credible election.
The publisher of National Agenda Newspaper, Mr Festus Emehuru, who spoke on behalf of RIVPA members, advised the new executive to carry all members along in the interest of peace and unity.
Other candidates elected into office were: Iheayi Osi as vice chairman, Augustine Tanee as secretary and Elyzer Agwua as Provost.
The chairman of the Credentials Committee, Miss Gloria Harry, said that all vacant positions would be filled via by-election.
By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
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