Appointment Of Acting Chief Judge In Order, Says Rivers AG

The Attorney General of Rivers state and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Nworgu Boms has dismissed allegations of constitutional violation by Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, in the appointment of the state acting chief judge.

Mr. Boms explained that Justice Agumagu is the most Senior Judge of the High Court in the state Judiciary before he was seconded to be the President of the Customary Court of Appeal.

Boms gave this explanation while addressing journalists in his Office in reaction to the statements made by members of the GDI that the new Acting Chief Judge was not the most senior Judge of the High court as provided in section 271 of the 1999 Constitution.

The Commissioner for Justice explained that there was nothing unlawful concerning the appointment of Justice Agumagu whom he said was appointed based on confirmation that he is the most senior Judge in the state, contrary to the claims of the GDI.

He re-stated that Agumagu was appointed as an Acting Chief Judge and not as a Chief Judge of the state and urged all to treat the judiciary with respect.

Bright Amaehule, the President General of GDI, had cited relevant sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria yesterday, and slammed the Governor, the Attorney General and Justice Agumagu for breaching the laid down procedure for appointment of an acting Chief Judge for the state.

Amaehule stated that where a vacancy occurs in the office of the Chief Judge of the State, section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution provides that until a substantive appointment is made filling the vacancy, the most senior Judge of the High Court of Rivers State shall be appointed to perform the functions of the Chief Judge of Rivers State in an acting capacity. And that the constitution does not say that the most senior Judge of the Customary Court of Appeal of Rivers State or President of the Customary Court of Appeal Rivers State.

A faction of the PDP in the state had made a similar critique of the appointment.

—Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt