NJC Wields Power In Rivers State
Following growing concern over the non appointment of a substantive Chief Judge or Acting Chief Judge in Rivers state which has continued to impact negatively on the administration of justice in the state, the National Judicial Council, NJC, on Tuesday, exercised its constitutional powers by directing the most senior Judge in the High Court of Justice of Rivers state Judiciary to perform the functions of assigning cases to all the Judges of the court and also carry out other related administrative duties.
In a press release signed by NJC's Acting Director (Information). Mr. Soji Oye, and made available to newsmen in Abuja, the Council noted that the current state of affairs in the Rivers State Judiciary over the non-appointment of a substantive Chief Judge or Acting Chief Judge has a negative consequences on the general administration of justice, particularly vis-à-vis assignment of cases and other related administrative duties in both the High Court of Justice and Customary Court of Appeal of the state.
"Consequently, in the exercise of its Constitutional powers, Council decided that the most senior Judge in the High Court of Justice of Rivers State Judiciary should perform the functions of assigning Cases to all the Judges of the court and also carry out other related administrative duties" reads part of the statement.
It also directed that the most senior Judge in the Customary Court of Appeal of Rivers State Judiciary should perform the functions of assigning Cases and also carry out other related administrative duties at that level.
NJC stated that it has become imperative to correct the seeming impression which its decision in the Rivers state issue has been portrayed in both the Electronic and Print Media, adding that the law abhors vacuum and that where there is a vacuum, the Law must fill it up.
The NJC has been at daggers drawn with Governor Rotimi Amechi over the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge for the state judiciary.
The governor had on the 18th March sworn in Justice P. N. C Agumagu as the substantive Chief Judge of the state but without the recommendation of the NJC, which is a constitutional requirement for such appointment.
Following Agumagu's appointment, the NJC convoked an emergency over the matter and noted that section 271 (1) of the Constitution provides that appointment of a person to the office of the Chief Judge of a State shall be made by the Governor of the State on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, subject to the confirmation of the appointment by the House of Assembly of the State and observed that it did not at any time make any recommendation to the Governor of Rivers State for Justice Agumagu, who was hitherto the President of Customary Court of Appeal, to be appointed the substantive Chief Judge of Rivers State.
The Council thereafter resolved that it does not and will not recognize Justice Agumagu as the Chief Judge of Rivers state and called on the general public and all concerned in the matter, particularly the Governor of Rivers state, the Rivers State House of Assembly, the Judiciary in Rivers State, to be notified and informed that the National Judicial Council will not deal with Justice Agumagu as the Chief Judge of Rivers State.
In a press release signed by NJC's Acting Director (Information). Mr. Soji Oye, and made available to newsmen in Abuja, the Council noted that the current state of affairs in the Rivers State Judiciary over the non-appointment of a substantive Chief Judge or Acting Chief Judge has a negative consequences on the general administration of justice, particularly vis-à-vis assignment of cases and other related administrative duties in both the High Court of Justice and Customary Court of Appeal of the state.
"Consequently, in the exercise of its Constitutional powers, Council decided that the most senior Judge in the High Court of Justice of Rivers State Judiciary should perform the functions of assigning Cases to all the Judges of the court and also carry out other related administrative duties" reads part of the statement.
It also directed that the most senior Judge in the Customary Court of Appeal of Rivers State Judiciary should perform the functions of assigning Cases and also carry out other related administrative duties at that level.
NJC stated that it has become imperative to correct the seeming impression which its decision in the Rivers state issue has been portrayed in both the Electronic and Print Media, adding that the law abhors vacuum and that where there is a vacuum, the Law must fill it up.
The NJC has been at daggers drawn with Governor Rotimi Amechi over the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge for the state judiciary.
The governor had on the 18th March sworn in Justice P. N. C Agumagu as the substantive Chief Judge of the state but without the recommendation of the NJC, which is a constitutional requirement for such appointment.
Following Agumagu's appointment, the NJC convoked an emergency over the matter and noted that section 271 (1) of the Constitution provides that appointment of a person to the office of the Chief Judge of a State shall be made by the Governor of the State on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, subject to the confirmation of the appointment by the House of Assembly of the State and observed that it did not at any time make any recommendation to the Governor of Rivers State for Justice Agumagu, who was hitherto the President of Customary Court of Appeal, to be appointed the substantive Chief Judge of Rivers State.
The Council thereafter resolved that it does not and will not recognize Justice Agumagu as the Chief Judge of Rivers state and called on the general public and all concerned in the matter, particularly the Governor of Rivers state, the Rivers State House of Assembly, the Judiciary in Rivers State, to be notified and informed that the National Judicial Council will not deal with Justice Agumagu as the Chief Judge of Rivers State.
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