Wike Warns Against Intimidation Of Judges

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has warned against
intimidation of Judges saying the judiciary must assert itself for
the country to make progress.

The governor said it was worrisome that in some situations, the
Judges felt too intimidated to discharge their constitutional
duties.

Wike according to a statement signed at the weekend by his
Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, spoke shortly after
swearing-in two new High Court judges and a permanent secretary at
the Government House, Port Harcourt.

The two new Judges are Justice Ben-Whyte Opufaa and Justice
Gbasam Okogbule while the new permanent secretary is, Sir Dagogo
Abere.

The governor said because of fear, some Judges instigate
petition against themselves in an attempt to avoid handling some
perceived sensitive matters.

Wike urged Judges to be firm and bear in mind their oaths of
office.

He further advised Judges to resist the attempt to foist the
culture of using the cost of transport by lawyers and parties in
court as a basis for the transfer of a matter from one state to
another.

He said: “This country cannot move forward if the judiciary does
not come out to say we must be firm to do our work.”

The governor observed that the issue of independence of the
judiciary had been narrowed to the ability of the judiciary to
control its capital fund and overhead.

But Wike noted that the judiciary could have all the money in
the world and still not be independent.

“What should be of importance to judicial officers is whether
they are given the necessary liberty to discharge their
constitutional duties in accordance to the law,” he said.

He advised the two newly sworn-in Judges to use their energy to
advance the course of justice and refuse to be intimidated.

“Whatever you believe that is right do it. It doesn’t matter who
is involved. Don’t be intimidated by the federal government,” he
said.

Wike directed the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for
Justice, Prof. Zaccheus Adangor (SAN) to expeditiously issue the
two judges the Certificate of Occupancy of their official
residence.

He said: “It will be proper for us to know how many more Judges
they will appoint by next year so we will be able to build houses
for them now and keep it ready.”

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has warned against
intimidation of Judges saying the judiciary must assert itself for
the country to make progress.

The governor said it was worrisome that in some situations, the
Judges felt too intimidated to discharge their constitutional
duties.

Wike according to a statement signed at the weekend by his
Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, spoke shortly after
swearing-in two new High Court judges and a permanent secretary at
the Government House, Port Harcourt.

The two new Judges are Justice Ben-Whyte Opufaa and Justice
Gbasam Okogbule while the new permanent secretary is, Sir Dagogo
Abere.

The governor said because of fear, some Judges instigate
petition against themselves in an attempt to avoid handling some
perceived sensitive matters.

Wike urged Judges to be firm and bear in mind their oaths of
office.

He further advised Judges to resist the attempt to foist the
culture of using the cost of transport by lawyers and parties in
court as a basis for the transfer of a matter from one state to
another.

He said: “This country cannot move forward if the judiciary does
not come out to say we must be firm to do our work.”

The governor observed that the issue of independence of the
judiciary had been narrowed to the ability of the judiciary to
control its capital fund and overhead.

But Wike noted that the judiciary could have all the money in
the world and still not be independent.

“What should be of importance to judicial officers is whether
they are given the necessary liberty to discharge their
constitutional duties in accordance to the law,” he said.

He advised the two newly sworn-in Judges to use their energy to
advance the course of justice and refuse to be intimidated.

“Whatever you believe that is right do it. It doesn’t matter who
is involved. Don’t be intimidated by the federal government,” he
said.

Wike directed the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for
Justice, Prof. Zaccheus Adangor (SAN) to expeditiously issue the
two judges the Certificate of Occupancy of their official
residence.

He said: “It will be proper for us to know how many more Judges
they will appoint by next year so we will be able to build houses
for them now and keep it ready.”