Governor Wike appoints chief judge, reopens Rivers courts

Nyesom Wike, the new governor of Rivers state, has appointed Daisy Okocha as chief judge of the state and also ordered the reopening of all courts in the state.

The state judiciary has been engulfed in crisis since the retirement of Iche Ndu as chief judge in August 2013.

After Ndu retired, Rotimi Amaechi, who was then the governor of the state, forwarded the name of Peter Agumagu, former president of the customary court of appeal, to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for consideration as Ndu’s successor but the NJC, which preferred Okocha, rejected Amaechi’s candidate.

The issue resulted to series of litigation, which eventually paralysed the judiciary.

But speaking shortly after his swearing-in ceremony at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt on Friday, Wike said Okocha had been appointed new chief judge and would be sworn in by 8am on Monday.

Wike also announced that some lecturers of the Rivers state University of Science and Technology, who were dismissed by Amaechi’s government, had been reinstated.

He assured the people of security of lives and property in the state.

Kate Abiri, the chief judge of Bayelsa state, administered the oath of office on Wike and Ipalibo Banigo, his deputy.

Mohammed Adoke, the immediate-past attorney-general of the federation, had directed Abiri to conduct the ceremony.

Adoke said that the directive was needful in averting a constitutional crisis and called on the people of the state to note that his decision was in accordance with the constitution of the country.