Rivers magistrate retires in protest against emergency rule

A Justice of the Peace in Rivers State has introduced his voluntary retirement in protest in opposition to the emergency rule within the oil-rich state, dealing one more blow to the Rivers Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas.

In a letter dated 11 April and addressed to the state chief choose by means of the secretary, Rivers State Judicial Service Fee, the Justice of the Peace, Ejike George, stated he was uncomfortable with the appointment of the retired army officer to run the state.

“This troublesome and regrettable choice is knowledgeable largely by my discomfort with the latest appointment of a quasi-military administration to run the affairs of a contemporary state like ours,” Mr George stated.

Mr Ibas was appointed as the only real administrator for Rivers by President Bola Tinubu after declaring a state of emergency and suspending all elected officers, together with Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Since assuming workplace, Mr Ibas, a retired chief of naval workers has come beneath  criticism from Nigerians and teams, together with the Nigerian Bar Affiliation (NBA) which stated the president violated Part 305 of the Structure with the declaration of emergency rule and appointment of Mr Ibas.

The NBA reiterated that Mr Ibas’ appointment was unlawful and that the president lacks the facility to take away Mr Fubara from workplace.

Final week, the NBA moved its 2025 Annual Basic Convention earlier scheduled for Port Harcourt to Enugu in Enugu State, prompting a backlash from Mr Ibas, who’s asking for a refund of N300 million “internet hosting rights” he claimed the Rivers authorities paid to the NBA.

The NBA stated Mr Ibas operates inside a command-style strategy that disregards constitutional provisions, courtroom selections, and pending litigations.

“His actions have undermined democratic establishments and processes, flouting the rule of regulation with impunity. Although clad in civilian apparel, he governs as if the state is beneath army rule,” the NBA stated, stressing that internet hosting the convention in Port Harcourt will quantity to an endorsement of illegality.

Governance construction antithetical to authorized practitioners, adjudicators

Mr George’s retirement letter to the state chief choose stated the present “quasi-military administration” within the state was alien to authorized practitioners.

“Milord (referring to the state chief choose) will agree with me that the sort of governance system is just not solely alien but additionally runs antithetical to our hallowed occupation as authorized practitioners and adjudicators.

“Having put in a whopping 16 out of my 22 years of authorized follow to this judiciary as a Justice of the Peace beneath successive democratic administrations, I discover it troublesome to work with the present authorities as doing so would quantity to a tacit and naïve acquiescence,” Mr George stated.

Apart from the NBA, different Nigerians, together with former governor of Rivers, Ada George, and founding father of Albinism Basis, Jake Epelle have criticised Mr Tinubu for declaring emergency rule in Rivers.

Mr George accused Mr Wike of masterminding the emergency rule within the state as a result of Governor Fubara refused to do his bidding. Mr Wike, in response, stated the previous governor was speaking like “kids.”

Mr Epelle criticised Mr Ibas for appointing sole directors for native authorities areas within the state stressing the administrator was despatched to make laws, not appointments.