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Prove Those Losing Faith In Judiciary Wrong, Fubara Urges Judges, Lawyers
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has urged judicial officers and all legal practitioners to be more dutiful in eliciting citizens’ trust in the ability of the Judiciary to confidently dispense justice according to law.
The Governor maintained that the Judiciary must remain upright, independent, free and fearless, if it must play its role as an important ally in the collective quest for human security and progress of any society.
Governor Fubara gave the charge while speaking at the Special Court Session organised to mark the Opening of the 2024/2025 Legal Year at the Rivers State High Court premises in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
The Governor said, the Judiciary must always be on the side of the law, no matter the pressure, which is why it is considered as the last hope of the common man.
He insisted: “Under our Constitution, the Executive arm and the Judiciary play different roles as separate and independent arms of government.
“However, we both share an enormous constitutional responsibility to uphold the rule of law and ensure sustainable peace and security in our State through effective administration of substantive justice to all citizens.
“For us, therefore, the Judiciary remains an important ally in our collective quest for human security and progress as no society will progress without an independent, free and fearless Judiciary. Even democracy will not endure without the Judiciary serving as its guardian angel.”
Governor Fubara noted that the Judiciary in Rivers State has remained a crest of pride for being stable, independent, productively effective, and devoid of controversies often associated with its peers elsewhere.
He lauded magistrates and judicial officers in the State, who have remained faithful to their judicial oath as they discharged their service to the State and contributed immensely to its advancement.
He said, “We also thank all other stakeholders, including the Bar, the Bench, judicial workers and the security agencies for the positive roles they have played in strengthening the Judiciary and advancing the rule of law, judicial independence, and administration of justice in the State.”
Governor Fubara, however, said that it is not yet time to rest on the laurels achieved because there are still areas requiring improvements, stressing that more has to be done to ensure universal access and speedy dispensation of justice, which are fundamental for earning the trust and confidence of all citizens.
He assured that as a government, his administration will remain alive to its constitutional responsibilities to the State’s Judiciary.
Governor Fubara said: “Since assuming office, we have done a lot to honour legal commitments to create a conducive environment for the Judiciary to thrive.
“We have respected and will continue to respect the autonomy and independence of the Judiciary as a separate and co-equal arm of government.
“Materially, we have been doing our best within available resources to enable our magistrates and judges to securely discharge their duties without fear of intimidation or interference from any person or entity.”
Governor Fubara said his administration has provided new vehicles to enhance the comfort and mobility of magistrates appointed in 2018 by the previous administration.
He also stated that his administration has facilitated the appointment of seven new judges to strengthen the judicial system further and enable the judges to cope with the ever-increasing caseload and demand for justice in the State.
He added, “We are equally determined to finish construction, furnish, and deliver the new High Court complex along Forces Avenue, Old GRA, Port Harcourt before the end of this year.
“Furthermore, we are working closely with the Chief Judge to renovate and equip all existing courts so that our judges and magistrates can have the comfort and convenience that they deserve to perform their duties.
“Finally, as you start the new legal year, I wish to reiterate the need to have and sustain the citizens’ trust and confidence in our judicial system, which is possible, if it can guarantee affordable and effective access and speedy resolution of disputes.”
Governor Fubara commended the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, for his progressive leadership and transformational strides.
He urged him to take the State’s Judiciary, under his watch, to enviable heights as the true last hope of the common man.
Governor Fubara also stated the willingness of his administration to continue to provide legal and material support to advance the basic objective of making the Rivers State Judiciary one of the best and most productive in the country.
In his address, Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, stated that the Judiciary, under him, will continue to promote the rule of law and order in the State.
Justice Amadi, explained that the Rivers State Judiciary now has 51 judges with 45 of them of the State High Court and 6 of the Customary Court, adding that between 30th October, 2023 and 30th September, 2024, a total revenue of N525,322,478.85kobo had been generated.
The Judiciary, he said, also disposed of 22,725 cases of 31, 886 cases brought forward; with 14,791 cases filed, and 23,870 cases now pending.
Presenting his address, Rivers State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dagogo Israel Iboroma, SAN, said, that within the past year, he personally ensured the vetting of all legal advice to stem incidences of compromise.
He also addressed 65 fliat applications in favour of legal practitioners, signed 337 consent files, resolved 41 cases on mediation, offered 15 pro-bono representations, and attracted over N124million as tax to the State Government.
On his part, Chief Onueze Okocha, SAN, who spoke on behalf of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, expressed the hope that the courts in Rivers State will continue to discharge their duties to the best of their abilities to avert unnecessary delays that affect the just, efficient and speedy dispensation of justice.
Speaking on behalf of the eight Branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Rivers State, the Port Harcourt Branch Chairman, Mrs Cordelia Eke, blamed legal officers for the deteriorating legal system, emphasising that their wrong legal opinions, and inability to condemn evil have contributed to making the Judiciary the place for needless battles.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.
