CJN WE TRUST YOU FOR JUSTICE IN RIVERS STATE

Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar is the first woman to occupy the position of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) since the nation had its first indigenous Chief Justice in 1958. This unprecedented feat also makes her the 13th indigenous head of the judiciary.

Her appointment is coming at a time when President Goodluck Jonathan is ensuring affirmative action by giving women strategic positions and promoting the rule of law through the Transformation Agenda. The judiciary has not been left out in the transformation and it has introduced a breath of fresh air in this arm of government. It is also gradually establishing a new phase in the judicial history of the country.

Justice Mukhtar who is leading this new phase, has been described as a highly principled individual. She is known to have an aversion to acts inimical to due process in the course of justice delivery. The current reforms she is introducing in the judiciary to clean it up and improve the public perception of the institution, will undoubtedly, enhance the justice system. We are therefore pleading that Justice Mukhtar let her reforms extend to Rivers State.

Many well meaning individuals have expressed alarm at the state of the judiciary there. They argue that there has been a systematic and continued abuse of the judicial process which is controlled by the executive. We appeal to the Chief Justice to reverse this and sanitize the system.

All law abiding citizens are praying that the integrity and principled stance in the dispensation of justice the CJN is championing will be seen in Rivers State. If Justice Mukhtar can sanitize the judicial system in Rivers State, her name will be written indelibly in the sands of time.

It is often said that the law court is the last hope of the common man. The people of the State are awaiting, hoping and praying for the success of your reforms.

Written By David Dappa