Adoke drafts Bayelsa State Chief Judge to swear in Rivers governor-elect

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister Of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), has moved to avert constitutional crisis in Rivers State by directing Bayelsa State Chief Judge to perform the swearing-in ceremony for the governor-elect in Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

Adoke said Tuesday that  the swearing-in of the Rivers State governor-elect, Nyesom Wike, would be performed by the Bayelsa State Chief Judge.

Vacancies in the Office of the Chief Judge of Rivers State, as well as the Office of the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Rivers State which has made strict compliance with the requirements of section 185(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, virtually impossible.

There were fears that the situation might lead to putting Wik’s swearin in on hold.

Adoke in a statement on Tuesday said his decision became necessary in order to avert a likely constitutional crisis in Rivers State on  May 29  when the governor-elect is expected to be sworn as the state governor.

“I have requested the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State to administer the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office on the governor-elect of Rivers State in accordance with Section 185(2) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, which provides as follows:

'“The Oath of Allegiance and the oath of Office shall be administered by the Chief Judge of the State or Grand Khadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the state, if any, or President of the Customary Court of Appeal of the state, if any, or the person for the time being respectively appointed to exercise the functions of any of those offices in any state.

“The general public particularly the government and people of Rivers State are hereby invited to take note of this development and appreciate the fact that the invitation extended to the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State to administer the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office on the governor-elect of Rivers State on  29th of May 2015  is in accordance with the Constitution and should therefore be respected by all and sundry.”

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