Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State, has said it was mischievous for the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, and some lawyers to politicise the appointment of judicial officers by the National Judicial Commission, NJC.
Wike also said he will not succumb to sentiments over who becomes the next Chief Judge of the state as he has conveyed to the state House of Assembly the letter of recommendation from the NJC.
The Governor said NJC is constitutionally empowered to recommend who becomes a Chief Judge.
Speaking when he received a delegation of Okpo Club of Nigeria on a courtesy visit at Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday, March 29, 2021, Governor Wike said the process of appointment of a substantive Chief Judge is based on constitutionality and not sentiments.
Wike said the names of the two most senior judges of the State High Court were submitted by the State Judicial Service Commission to the NJC early to avoid the situation of having a Chief Judge in an acting capacity.
“I have conveyed the NJC’s recommendation to the House of Assembly. I am not the one who recommended, mine is to act on the recommendation of NJC. I never wrote a letter to NJC, I am not a member of the Judicial Service Commission, JSC.
“Nobody can intimidate me with any kind of sentiment. I will do what is right. We knew the crisis that happened here in this state and people do not want to distinguish it. What was the crisis? JSC submitted Daisy Okocha’s name and Agumagu’s name. Of course, Daisy Okocha was the most senior. But even at that, Agumagu was the President of the Customary Court of Appeal. NJC in their wisdom said no, we are going to recommend the most senior judge and recommended Daisy Okocha.”
Source: Daily Post
