LEAVE RIVERS STATE JUDICIARY OUT OF YOUR POLITICAL CRISIS – NBA TELLS SPEAKER AMAEWHULE, OTHERS
The Rivers State chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the move by the State House of Assembly to have the State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, investigated for alleged age falsification.
The Rivers State NBA referred to a recent resolution passed by the Assembly inviting the Department of State Security (DSS) to investigate Justice Amadi for the alleged offence.
All chairmen of eight NBA branches in Rivers State came together to declare their position at a media briefing in the state capital, Port Harcourt.
The NBA Branch Chairmen asked Speaker Martin Amaeehule and the twenty-six other lawmakers with him, as well as other political gladiators in the state, to leave judiciary out of their crisis and to respect the rights of other arms of government.
The Chairman of NBA, Okrika Branch, Tamunosiki Roberts, who presented the position of the group, said it was unfortunate that the lawmakers adopted a resolution to undermine the duties of the National Judicial Council, as the sole regulatory authority over the judiciary.
Roberts said the Rivers State NBA believed in the need for the protection of the Judiciary, which he said remained the last hope of the common man, adding that the role of security agencies are clearly defined.
He said "It is quite unfortunate that despite the already heated polity in Rivers State, we are still experiencing escalations such as this. We recognize the Constitutional powers and roles of the three Arms of Government in the State. We also recognize the need for these Arms of Government to work in synergy for the peace, progress and development of the State. Thus, there is need for mutual respect amongst all the parties.”
He said the eight branches of the NBA in Rivers State resolved to advise the Judiciary not to be intimidated into succumbing to blackmail, bullying or political pressure in the discharge of their duties, just as they warned against actions that could lead to the closure of court as experienced between 2014 and 2015.
On her part, the Chairman of the NBA, Port Harcourt Branch, Mrs Cordelia Eke assured that the NBA would not fail to respond to issues as they unfold, adding that the judiciary should be left out of the political crisis in the state.