Niger Delta
Diri Charges Lawyers On Integrity Of Justice Delivery System …As Judiciary Rakes In N33,016,448.00, Disposes 2,575 Cases
Bayelsa State Governor, Douyi Diri has urged legal practitioners in Nigeria to refrain from making condemnatory statements on court judgments in the media, and putting a huge question mark on the integrity of the Nigerian judicial system.
He gave the charge at a ceremonial court session in Yenagoa, on Friday, to mark the commencement of the 2023-2024 Legal Year in the state.
Represented by his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Diri said the practice among lawyers to speak to the press after court judgments, often condemning such rulings, undermines the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary.
The Bayelsa Chief Executive, therefore, called on legal practitioners to stop what he called “the practice of law in the media”, noting that whatever they use to qualify a court judgment, that is what the public would call it.
He stressed that there was no need for lawyers and their clients to make unguarded and disparaging comments about unfavourable court rulings as they have opportunity for appeal up to the Supreme Court.
Senator Diri, however, called on members of the Bench to be above board in their judgments to protect the image of the judiciary as the hope of the common man.
A Statement from the Deputy Governor’s media aide, Mr Doubara Atasi, quoted him as saying the act destroys the notion of the Judiciary being the last hope of the common man.
He also noted that as a people and a country, everything necessary should be put in place to improve the dispensation of justice in the Nigerian justice system.
”The first people who give the impression that justice has been miscarried are lawyers. The lawyers are the first to come out of the court to address the press, condemning court judgments.
“Whatever you call the judgment that comes out of the court, that is exactly what the public ends up calling it. I really want us to caution ourselves. Let us stop the media practice of law in our country to safeguard the integrity of the justice system.
“We need, as a people and as a country, to see what we can do to improve on what we dispense out. And to that extent, I am talking to the judges and judicial officers that make up the bench”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Matilda Abrakasa Ayemieye, has said the state Judiciary during the preceding 2022/2023 legal year raked in N33,016,448.00 in revenue, while also disposing 2,575 cases.
“In the course of our operations in the outgone legal year, the total sum of N33,016,448.00 only, was generated as income accruing from filing fees, fines and forfeiture of bonds.
“As with the cases, the revenue for the year was slightly lower than last year due to the reasons already advanced. Without doubt, we expect to record an improvement this year.
“All we’ve achieved were possible because of the vision of the past leadership of the Judiciary and the unwavering support from the State Government, particularly the prosperity administration of our miracle Governor, Distinguished Senator Douye Diri.
“Our Mission in the last one year was to consolidate on the gains we have made and open up new frontiers. Specifically, we’ve commenced the accessibility project across the State. This project is to bring the speedy and effective dispensation of justice closer to the people of Bayelsa State.
“Efforts are currently ongoing to open all Courts outside Yenagoa to increase accessibility and reduce the cost of litigation. We’ve commenced work on the renovation of both the Magistrate and High Courts in Kaiama. Ogbia and Sagbama High Courts will follow in a matter of days.
“It is our hope that by the end of the current year, all Courts sitting outside their designated places of session would be fully relocated”, she said.
According to her, a total of 2,577 cases were pending at the commencement of the past year and were brought forward, while the total number of cases filed within the year under review was 2,834.
The total number of cases disposed of, he continued, were 2,575, noting also that total number of pending cases at the end of the year stood at 2,850, respectively.
The Chief Judge stressed that the figures given were slightly lower than those of the preceding year due to the flood break which spanned about two months in which courts were closed, and filing of cases and other activities were brought to a standstill.
She restated that the state’s judiciary look forward to recording a considerable improvement in the 2023/2024 legal year, expressing hope that floods and other intervening situations would not arise.
The Bayelsa State Chief Judge extolled the virtues of her immediate past predecessor, the late Justice Kate Abiri, nothing that the saddening events in the past weeks have made the state Judiciary under her leadership to settle for a low-key celebration for the legal year.
She also noted that the Judiciary her late predecessor handed over to her had a clearly defined vision and mission towards achieving the goal of building a world class Judiciary.
“The Judiciary that was handed over to me has a clearly defined vision and mission, with emphasis on speedy and effective dispensation of Justice.
“In pursuit of this goal, we have deployed technology, built physical infrastructure and improved on staff welfare in the past years. The Bayelsa State Judiciary is now a reference point in the use of the Court Recording System as well as the E-filing of cases in the entire country”, the CJ said.
Justice Ayemieye, who also spoke on challenges facing the state judiciary, noted that the greatest of all the factors inhibiting her effective operations was that of manpower deficit, calling on the State Governor to authorize the employment of some new staff for the state’s judiciary.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Biriyai Dambo (SAN), promised his willingness towards a continued partnership with the State Judiciary for effective Justice delivery, saying he was sure things can only get better for the state Judiciary.
In the same vein, in a joint address by the Yenagoa and Sagbama branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), delivered by the Chairman of the Yenagoa Branch of the NBA, Barr. Somina Johnbull, the NBA condemned the recent trend in which members of the public tended to deploy the use of opinion poll and protest to intimidate Judges, and pre-empt the outcome of judgement in the nation.
They called on the Judiciary and all well-meaning citizens to uphold the Rule of law at all times through the appropriate institutions of the state to avoid chaos.
On his part, a former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state, Mr Kemesuode Wordu (SAN), while speaking, advised young lawyers to be patient, hardworking and diligent.
He also implored older members of the Bench and Bar to take their healthcare seriously.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa
The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaete Obot, has called for regular release of funds to the judiciary to ensure effective dispensation of justice.
Obot made the call recently while speaking at the opening of the 2024/2025 legal year in Uyo.
The Chief Judge said the judiciary in Akwa Ibom State had been grappling with debts arising from non-release of funds in 2023.
She said the judiciary required adequate funding to perform optimally, saying, “we need funds to maintain our facilities across the hierarchy of courts in the state”.
Obot further stated that the state judiciary was hugely under-staffed, and required more manpower.
“The last recruitment into the state judiciary was done in 2012. There is need to address the issue of shortage of staff in the system.
“Shortage of staff has made us to assign only one staff to cover duty schedules that are meant for two or three persons.
“Within the last two years, no fewer than 316 staff have retired from the state judiciary without replacement.
“When retirement goes on for many years without regular replacement, many skills and competences will be lost”, she said.
The Chief Judge decried the absence of basic educational facilities in correctional centres in state.
She suggested the establishment of adult education facilities within the correctional centres to support the education needs of inmates.
“Inmates require basic primary, secondary education and skills acquisition facilities to earn the needed reform”, she said.
In his remarks, the State Governoe, Umo Eno, assured the judiciary of the state government’s support and cooperation to enhance effective dispensation of justice.
Eno commended the Chief Judge and the judiciary in the state for their steadfastness and commitment to justice delivery.
The Tide’s source reports that a special court session was held during the event to signal the commencement of new legal year.
Delta State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, has said the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, was determined to deliver quality road projects to all Deltans across the State.
The Commissioner, who spoke recently during an inspection of projects in Warri South and Uvwie Local Government Areas of the state, said Governor Oborevwori was desirous to ensure that Deltans get value for every money spent on projects in the state.
The projects inspected include Central Hospital Road, Warri; Edo Guest House Road, Ekpan; Ogbetuo Avenue, Effurun; Rehabilitation and construction of Bright Hope Street with spurs to Okiemute Street, and Senator James Manager Street, Off Airport Road, Effurun, and Uti Road, Effurun.
Izeze, who paid unscheduled visits to the various project sites, expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done thus far by the various contractors, assuring that Governor Oborevwori’s promise to revamp Warri and environs was becoming a reality.
“I am very satisfied with the work being done at the places we have visited so far. As you can see, the visits were not scheduled, the contractors were not expecting us because I did not call any of them.
“We decided to take them unawares in the hope that probably some of them may have decided to go on vacation. Right from the Central Hospital where the drains are being extended to discharge water into the natural waterways for the road to be reasphalted.
“We are satisfied that the contractor was on site and working according to specifications as provided for in the Bills of Engineering Measurement (BEME).
“So also the contractor handling Ogbetuo Avenue, Effurun, when we got there even though they were not physically on site, we noticed that they have done the binder course waiting for the finishing course to be applied and I can certify that the quality of work done are good enough”, he said.
At Bright Hope Street with spurs to Okiemute Street and James Manager Street, the Commissioner said he visited to see the level and quality of work that has been done, especially considering the fact that the contractor was raising his final certificate.
“For me as a matter of principle and following the Governor’s directive, any job that requires certification, will need my physical presence to inspect and ensure that government is getting value for money spent.
“As Governor Oborevwori has promised Deltans, he intends to extract value for every money spent on every job that is done and he insists on quality supervision.
“As you all know, supervision and management is key to most of our projects because contractors are capitalists, if you leave them they will want to make the highest profit as possible. So we go back and certify that the job is satisfactory”, he noted.
At Uti Road, Effurun, the Commissioner, who met the contractor excavating the ground and sand filling with white sharp sand as provided in the BEME, took measurements of the depth and expressed satisfaction with the contractor for following specifications.
“As you can see, the contractor is on site and doing the job according to specification and we do hope that they speed up their pace so that as soon as the rains abate, they can get the road ready for inauguration.
“We are optimistic of its completion soonest so that all the residents and adjoining streets that this strategic road feeds will heave a sigh of relief.
“They will also appreciate the fact that Governor Oborevwori’s promise to give Warri and environs a facelift is now coming to reality right before their very eyes”.
On Edo Guest House Road, Ekpan, Izeze said, “the job has been completed and you can see the quality of work that has been done, the job has been completed.
“I am very elated that the residents are happy with the completion. All through the period we visited on inspection, the residents had always asked us to convey their appreciation to Governor Oborevwori because they had thought the road would never be completed.
“You can see how elated they were and that is the essence of governance. When you are able to put smile on the face of someone who does not need to have access to you to have development brought to their door step.
“I felt very fulfilled because the essence of governance is public service and when you service the public and they appreciate it, its quite exciting”.
By: Albert Ograka, Asaba
Bayelsa State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on security operatives to investigate the state’s Commissioner for Power, Engr. Komuku Kharim over alleged terror attacks at the party’s secretariat in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Briefing newsmen shortly after a closed door meeting of the party’s State Executive Council, Chairman of the party, Barr. Dennis Otiotio, alleged that as a fallout of the recent suspension of some erring members of the party by their Wards and Local Government Areas, thugs believed to be loyal to the Commissioner launched mayhem and unwarranted attacks at the party’s State Secretariat.
Otiotio faulted the Commissioner, describing it as “political rascality taken too far”.
The Tide learnt that the Bayelsa State chapter of the APC recently suspended 10 of its members, including the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, over alleged anti-party activities.
Leadership of the party, which also bared its mind on the membership status of the suspended Minister and others, noted that the State Working Committee (SWC) was planning a possible review or ratification of the suspension within timelines, saying as party faithful, it was expedient that all members work together for the progress and unity of the party in accordance with the renewed hope mantra of President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We call on the Nigerian Police and other security formations to institute an investigation on the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Power, Engr. Komuku Kharim, and call him and his thugs to order.
“This morning, Monday 14th October, 2024, thugs and other hoodlums believed to be loyal to him stormed the APC State Secretariat in their numbers with the intent to maim party faithful and cause unwarranted destruction.
“The recent suspension of some erring members of the party, including the Honourable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (oil), and others wasn’t carried out by the party’s State Executive Council, but by the wards and LGAs chapters of the suspended members.
“As a party, we’ve conducted ourselves within the ambits of the law. The APC is a party that believes in the rule of law and order. It’s on record that the said Commissioner until his recent appointment by the Governor Douye Diri’s administration has been allegedly enmeshed in several anti-party activities.’’
“Rather than direct his grievances to the appropriate party authorities and other available dispute resolution mechanisms within the party, Engr. Komuku instead chose to unleash mayhem on the party’s secretariat and members”, the APC said.
In the same vein, the lawmaker representing Southern-Ijaw constituency 4 in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor-Ben Selekaye, has charge the party’s faithfuls and the general public to discountenance rumours that the present State Working Committee of the party has been sacked by the court.
He said it became necessary to correct the erroneous believe as, according to him, that matter has been resolved by organs of the party at all levels, noting that the party was looking forward to an expanded state working committee meeting were all stakeholders will be in attendance to resolve all perceived grievances and other pending issues.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa