National Judicial Council, Thank You!

The Peoples Democratic Party, Rivers State Chapter unequivocally condemns the schizophrenic statement of the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari published at page 42 of THE NATION newspaper of Tuesday June 3 2014 titled 'NATIONAL JUDICIAL COUNCIL'S [NJC'S] Continuing Interference with the administration of Justice in Rivers State' and the putrid ranting of her colleague, the Honourable Attorney-General of Rivers State, Worgu Boms, Esq. reported at pages 1 and 6 of THISDAY newspaper also of Tuesday June 3, 2014.

The statements credited to these highly placed officials confirm to the public the continuous alarm that the Peoples Democratic Party has been raising that the Amaechi Administration is completely neurotic and devoid of either the capacity or capability to deliver any of the fundamental objectives and directives of state policy as contained in Chapter 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

It is on record that Rivers State is the only federating unit in Nigeria where all arms of Government and governance have totally collapsed without there being any insurgency. The Rivers State House of Assembly convenes in the refectory (dinning hall) of Government House Port Harcourt with Governor Amaechi doubling as its 'General Overseer and Dinning Hall Prefect' having converted the Rivers State House of Assembly to the 'Rivers State Government House of Assembly'.

Amaechi's grouse with the National Judicial Council, the body of Lawyers in Rivers State and all well meaning citizens and residents of Rivers State is his inability to transform the Rivers State Judiciary into the 'Rivers State Government or Government House Judiciary' or, more appropriately, 'Rotimi Amaechi Judiciary' where justice would be dispensed not according to the norms and nuances of the Nigerian Constitution and laws made pursuant thereto, but in accordance with his (Amaechi's) whims and caprices having conquered Rivers State by virtue of the misfortune of his governance of the State.

It is therefore pure madness for Governor Amaechi speaking through his acolytes, Semenitari and Boms to attempt to tarnish the reputation of the National Judicial Council and the Chief Justice of Nigeria for coming to the rescue of the residents of Rivers State and the persons who do business in Rivers State. Who are the politicians within the National Judicial Council? In fact, if they exist we thank them for their politics that has the effect of rescuing Rivers People from the tyranny of Amaechi.

The Peoples Democratic Party, Rivers State Chapter without equivocation therefore commends the National Judicial Council for coming to the rescue of the residents of Rivers State and those who do business in Rivers State by the appointment of Administrative Judges for the High Court of Rivers State and the Customary Court of Appeal of Rivers State.

The rights to justice of the residents of Rivers State and those who do business in Rivers State have been trammelled by Governor Amaechi who has refused since August 19, 2013 to ensure that a Chief Judge of Rivers State emerges in accordance with constitutional provisions, but rather prefers to place in the hands of one man, the true political Judge, the offices of Chief Judge of the High Court of Rivers State and President of the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal.

We state that the failure by Governor Amaechi to follow DUE PROCESS in the appointment of a Chief Judge in Rivers State is the CONSTITUTIONAL ABUSE from which the National Judicial Council is rescuing Rivers State through the appointment of Administrative Judges to ensure that Governor Amaechi does not destroy the Judiciary in Rivers State the way he has destroyed both the supine Legislature that he holds hostage in Government House and the non-existent Executive that has not held any Executive Council Meeting properly so-called since his (Amaechi's) transformation to the maximum leader.

Litigants, Lawyers and Judges are aware that thousands of case files lay unassigned at the High Court Port Harcourt. Probates are not signed and all acts that require the signature of the Chief Judge have been in abeyance since August 19, 2013. Why? Because Governor Amaechi has decided that Rivers State would not have a Chief Judge unless that dictated by him regardless of entreaties even from his colleagues.

We state unequivocally that the National Judicial Council has the constitutional duty to deal with all matters relating to broad issues of policy and administration. This of course includes the administration of justice in Rivers State which the megalomaniacs in governance in Rivers State seek to subvert.

It is explicit then that it is these officials of Government who through their respective statements have displayed a clear intention to subvert the administration of justice and inflict unending pain on those seeking justice in Rivers State having secured a High Court outside Port Harcourt that dishes out to them any relief they seek which would one day include an order either removing the Chief Justice of Nigeria from office or sacking the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or both.

We wish to inform the good People of Rivers State that there is no Court Judgment existing anywhere in the world that excludes Honourable Justice Daisy Okocha from being the Chief Judge of Rivers State.

There is also no Court Judgment existing anywhere in the world that has appointed or recommended the appointment of Honourable Justice P. N. C. Agumagu the suspended President of the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal (and pretenderto the office of Chief Judge) as the substantive Chief Judge of Rivers State.

We Challenge the Government of Rivers State to publish any such Judgment(s) and the enforceable enrolled order which the Attorney-General claims exists.

We can boldly tell Rivers people that the said judgment exists purely in the figment of the neurotic imaginations of the Amaechi Government and its officials.

We therefore assure all the workers of the Rivers State Judiciary that no harm whatsoever shall befall them in the execution of their lawful duties that includes working with the Administrative Judges appointed by the National Judicial Council to restore speedy and efficient dispensation of justice both at the High Court of Rivers State and the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal.

We assure the workers of the Rivers State Judiciary that the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission, the JSC referred to by the Attorney-General, is as at today non-existent, having been destroyed by the Amaechi Government, which ensured that the JSC is not currently composed in accordance with the 1999 Constitution. This again demonstrates to the whole world the extent to which the Amaechi Administration has plunged Rivers State into Anarchy.

We assure the workers of the Rivers State Judiciary that any actions by the said JSC be it employment, discipline, promotion etc. are completely meaningless and shall be reviewed at the appropriate time.

We specifically assert and assure all Judiciary Staff and indeed the citizens and residents of Rivers State that any Judiciary Staff that suffers any form of victimisation at the hands of the Amaechi Government as threatened by its Attorney-General by reason of diligently obeying lawful instructions and directives of the Administrative Judges appointed by the National Judicial Council shall be fully recompensed in no time at all as we are definitely seeing the back of this crazed Government on May 29, 2015 - less than one year from today.

Jerry Needam
Special Adviser, Media
To Rivers State PDP Chairman,
Bro Felix Obuah

June 4, 2014