Rivers State
governor, Nyesom Wike, has charged
judges to be courageous in the
discharge of their duties, even as he declared
that his administration would continue to promote the independence of the judiciary for the sustained growth of the state.
Addressing
members of the bench and bar during the State Golden Jubilee Special Court
Session yesterday, Governor Wike tasked them
to be courageous as they dispense justice. The governor said that the
Nigerian Judiciary has reached a stage where only courageous judges could
uphold the rule of law.
He said:
“Nigeria has come to a point where if you don’t have courage, justice will not be done. The judiciary must continue
to uphold the tenets of the law.”
He regretted
that the judiciary has come under intense blackmail under the present administration.
“Why is it
that only when a matter comes that the Federal Government has interest that
monies are found in the account of judges?” he asked.
While
affirming the need to fight corruption, he condemned the approach,
saying that it was politically motivated and
selective.
He suggested
the promotion of the welfare of judicial officers to make corruption
unattractive for them.
The governor
explained that his administration has embarked on the
construction of Judges’ Quarters,adding that his administration would always
work with the State judiciary to develop Rivers.
Speaking,
the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Adama Iyaye-Lamikanra, commended the governor
for the financial autonomy of the judiciary and the independence it enjoys.
Justice
Iyaye-Lamikanra said that the special court session was held to commemorate the
50 years of the existence of the judiciary in the state and also celebrate her
contributions.
Attorney
General and Commissioner of Justice, Emmanuel Aguma , a Senior Advocate of
Nigeria (SAN), said the Wike administration
has played critical roles in repositioning the judiciary after years of turbulence. The event attracted lawyers from the eight
branches of the NBA.
… Vows to
reclaim Ikoyi funds
Rivers State
Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has
declared that his administration will recover the ‘state funds’ found at
an Ikoyi residence despite the antics of the Federal Government.
Speaking during a special appearance on Channels
Television Sunrise Programme, Governor Wike
reiterated that the money stashed at the Ikoyi residence belongs to the people of Rivers State.
He said the
state team of lawyers are already working to ensure that Rivers State gets back her funds which are proceeds from
the sale of the assets of the state.
Recall that
Governor Wike had at a press conference explained that the Ikoyi funds were proceeds from the sale of the assets of
the state government by the immediate past Rotimi Amaechi-led administration.
“We will
follow due process of the law to get back Rivers State money found at the Ikoyi
residence. This money belongs to the Rivers State people. We have conducted our
checks.
“We will
stun Nigerians with this matter. We will come out with our evidence at the
appropriate time”.
The governor
said that the state government would not reveal its strategy to recover the funds because of the games being played by the APC-led
Federal Government.
He said that
the politicization of the entire issue of the
fund discovered at the Ikoyi residence, indicate that the Federal
Government has something to hide.
On
developments in the Niger Delta, Governor Wike stated that the Niger Delta Development
Commission (NDDC) is working at cross
purposes with the region.
He said that
the NDDC politicises the process of its execution of projects which are usually abandoned. He
added that the agency deliberately
refuses to liaise with the states before projects are initiated.
On the PDP
crisis, Governor Wike stated that he is supporting Makarfi and that he will
wait for the Supreme Court to state its
position. The governor declared that it
is very much unlikely that he will work with Ali Modu Sheriff.
He said: “It
is very much unlikely that I will work with Ali Modu Sheriff. It is not possible for me to stay with
Sheriff .”
According to the sun report; The
governor explained that Sheriff has no
love for the PDP as he has continued to
work against the party, in liaison with
the APC. The governor alleged that in Benue and Jigawa States APC Government to
frustrate the PDP in upcoming Local
Government elections.
On
developments in Rivers State, the governor noted that his administration has entrenched statewide execution of
projects. He said projects have been
initiated and executed in 22 out of the 23 Local Government Areas of the state. Governor Wike said that only
local government area, Omuma, yet to have a project, now has a major road
contract awarded in the area.
He said that
his administration is developing Rivers State
as a tourism destination of the country. He said the construction of the Port Harcourt Pleasure Park is a
deliberate action to promote tourism.
The
governor regretted that
Rivers State and other Niger Delta states are losing revenue because oil
companies pay their taxes in Lagos,
while they operate in the region.
On Rivers at
50, he said that the state has made tremendous progress. He said that the state appreciates God for
being together despite the challenges
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