Rivers
Wakirike People Canvass Massive Sandfilling Of PH
The People of Wakirike, comprising of Okrika, Ogu/Bolo LGAs, and Southern Port Harcourt, has appealed to the Rivers State, Government to carry out massive sandfilling of its shores and coastal areas of Port Harcourt to enable the people of Okrika have more land to build houses for occupation.
The request was made by the Chairman of Okrika Divisional Council of Chiefs, (ODCC) Chief Nemi Adoki, on behalf of Wakirike people, at the Aborigrine Hall Borikiri, in Port Harcourt, recently, during a briefing with newsmen to mark the Port Harcourt centaury Anniversary.
The Wakirike people also demanded a comprehensive survey of the original Port Harcourt land mass and adequately compensate the aboriginal peoples of Okrika and rebisi.
Chief Adoki said the century celebration was in respect of Wakirike’s ancestral ownership of rights in Port Harcourt.
He said the co-ownership of Port Harcourt by Okrika and Rebisi was rooted in the Hargrove agreement signed with the British on May 18th 1913 over the acquisition of Port Harcourt land.
He noted that the ownership of Port Harcourt had been largely misconstrued in certain quarters through historical distortions, but pointed out that the people of Okrika conceded vast portion of their occupational land in the acquisition of Port Harcourt.
The Wakirike people which expressed satisfaction with the level gud pace of development in the state, also urged the Rivers State Government to build a unique memorial in hoonour of the great patriots who in their time and age committed themselves to the sacrifice of letting go a priceless yet vast and immesurable land and also to serve as a timeless continuous reminder to generations, even yet unborn, of their incredible contributions to the historical development of Port Harcourt.
Taneh Beemene
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