Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, since he assumed office is the only governor in Nigeria who voiced out against the unfair treatment of Judges by the Federal Government.
Some years back the Federal Government raided some Justices by officials of the Department of State Service (DSS), Nyesom Wike rose in defense of the Rivers State’s Justice.
Governor Wike also had a leading voice when the house of Justice Mary Odili was unlawfully raided at Port Harcourt, Rivers State Headquarters.
The vibrant governor, however, wants the judiciary to protect judges from succumbing to any form of intimidation.
Swearing in four new judges of the Rivers State High Court at Government House, Port Harcourt on Friday, Governor Wike said the judges must uphold the rule of law and deliver judgment on merit.
He pointed out that the inability of the nation’s judiciary to protect their judges made them subjects of intimidation.
The four new judges sworn in were Popnen Sylvester Sunday, Daketima, Gabriel Kio, Chinelo Chidubem Odili, and Nsirim Chinwe Amanda.
Wike complained that if the political interference in the judicial system is not stopped, soon the judges won’t be able to handle cases.
“If what is going on now is not stopped by NJC, I can assure you no political matter will go before any judge and that judge will have any courage to handle such matter.
“The intimidation by NJC on these judges is quite alarming and I have to say it clearly, if you don’t give your judges support to do what they’re supposed to do, then let us better forget that in 2023 that we will have it easy.
“From next year (2022), it will be very turbulent and so matters will come before judges, allow them to dispense the matter the way they think it is. That is why there is always an appeal.
“But the moment any judge gives a decision, we politicians we must always write a petition. That you cannot take away. No politician losses any case and thinks that there is nothing that went wrong.”
Governor Wike charged the new judges to take their job seriously, promote a healthy work culture and avoid needless adjournments that delay the time taken to dispense with cases.
The governor who doubled as a barrister advised the judges to contribute to the economic growth of the state, and consult their colleagues where necessary.
“But frankly speaking, yes, you’ve been appointed as a judge, but again there are responsibilities too. Some of you were private legal practitioners, two of you were former chief magistrates.
As private legal practitioners, you’re used to blaming judges for not sitting on time, or not being serious with their work.
“But by the grace of God, you have joined the league so that you’ll begin to sit on time and then take your work very seriously and make sure that judgments are given the way you wanted it when you were a private legal practitioner.
“When a date is fixed, there should not be excuses to say that the judgment is not ready. Make sure that there are no unnecessary adjournments when judgment are fixed to be given.”
Africa Investigative Magazine gathered that Justice Popnen S. Sunday and Justice Daketima G. Kio were private legal practitioners, while Justice Nsirim and Chinelo C. Odili were Chief Magistrates before the recognition by the state government.
