Rivers
Apara Kingdom Gets New Monarch
Following the demise of the eze
Oha Apara III of Ekinigbo Clan/Apara Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, the Kesiorlu Royal House, has coronated a new Paramount Ruler, Chief Gift Eziwhuo Johnson to replace the late Sir Eze S.N. Wali.
The coronation ceremony which took place at the Palace of Late Eze S.N. Wali in Rumuigbo Community last Tuesday attracted several chiefs, Owhor holders, youths, women and top government functionaries including the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Sir Tony Okocha and a Special Assistant to Rivers State Governor, Mr. Alex Wele among others.
The Chairman of the Kesirlu Royal House, Prince Kenneth Wali in an address presented at the occasion on behalf of the royal family said it was the prerogative of the royal house to coronate a new King whenever the stool was vacant in order not to create a vaccum, stressing that the Eze Oha traditional stool was hereditary.
He also went down memory lane to buttress his point, stressing that the historical background of the stool spanned several years, beginning from 1925.
Prince Wali further explained that the rightful person to occupy the stool must come from Obogha’s linage, as the first son of Kesiorlu, and expressed delight that the new Monarch, Chief Gift Johnson had come of age to occupy the stool of Eze Oha Apara IV.
He said it was wrong to play politics with the tradition of the people. The address was also signed by Ojiowhor Chinda Wali, Mr. Chidi Wakpa and Elder Godpower N. Worlu Wobo.
All those who spoke at the event lauded the emergence of Chief Johnson as the new Paramount Ruler and pledged their loyalty to his administration.
In his response, Chief Johnson thanked the Chiefs, Owhor holders and all those who made his coronation a success, saying, it was by the grace of God that he was chosen as the new King.
Speaking with newsmen in his Palace, Chief Johnson said the process that brought him to the throne was based on the truth as his people told the world the truth to pave the way for his coronation.
According to him, his coronation was a new dawn from the Ekinigbo Clan and the Apara Kingdom at large.
He said since it was the truth that brought him to the throne, he would always abide by the truth and ensure that the truth always prevailed, assuring that he would never disrespect or disobey the throne.
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