Wike: FG Weakening Nigeria’s Justice System with Systematic Intimidation

• Fight against corruption in the judiciary dubious, discredited  
• Judges lack courage to defend our collective rights to an impartial judicial system

By Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has accused the federal government of weakening the justice system in the country by clamping down on judges “to lay the grounds for the wholesale politicisation of the justice sector in the country.”  

The governor said the “systematic intimidation of the judiciary by the federal government” had nothing to do with “its dubious and much discredited fight against corruption in the judiciary”. 

According to Wike: “The danger in the incremental politicisation of the judiciary has started manifesting in the poor quality of justice from the election tribunals where judges are appointed and directed to execute pre-determined results, and also in the quality of the Court of Appeal, where seniority, proven competence and integrity are blatantly passed over for partisan affiliations in the appointment or elevation of judges to that court.Speaking during the Special Court Session to mark the opening of the 2017/2018 Legal Year, Wike said the federal government was guilty of impunity, and threat to rule of law and impartial delivery of Justice. 

 “When all is said and done, let us not forget that Nigeria is still a nation of laws and not of strong men. While the federal government is guilty of impunity, the greatest threats to the rule of law and the independence of our judiciary are the judges who lack the courage to defend our collective rights to an impartial judicial system or compromise their oaths in order to remain in office.” 

The governor noted that the present federal government operates in denial of the fact that the judiciary is a separate arm of government, which must be unreservedly respected, protected and preserved for the sustainable development of the country. 

He alleged that since 2015, the nation had not seen any single initiative from the federal government to either reform or correct real or perceived inefficiencies in the nation’s judicial system. 

He said: “We continue to witness an insidious erosion of the Rule of Law and the independence of the judiciary through a combination of vile threats, unwarranted interferences and opportunistic pressures on judges in a manner and scale never seen before in the political history of this country. 

“Indeed, judges appear to have been intimidated to the point where some now find it very uncomfortable even to attend official State functions with governors for fear of being blacklisted thereafter and eventually punished,” he stated. 

On the achievements of his administration in the Justice sector, the governor said his administration had built new courts and renovated existing courts. 

Wike said: “Just two months ago, we flagged off the residential housing scheme for judicial officers, including those serving at the Federal level so that our judges can have the peace of mind to do their work in their own comfortable homes for life. 

“Today, I am happy to announce that we have equally designed a similar housing scheme for magistrates, which construction we shall flag off in a couple of weeks”. 

In her address, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Adama Iyaye-Laminkara, stated that the Rivers State Judiciary would continue  to uphold justice in the state.

 She lauded the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, for his regular release of funds for the administration of Justice.  

Also speaking, the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Emmanuel Aguma (SAN) urged the Police and other security agencies to  respect the tenets of the law. 

Goodwill messages were delivered by the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Port Harcourt Branch, Victor Frank Briggs and the Spokesman of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Chief Onueze Okocha ( SAN). 

 Wike later inaugurated the New Ultra-Modern Block E Building and Newly Renovated Electronic Library at the State High Court Complex. 

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Madrid, Barcelona Re-enact Rivalry with Football Academy

No rivalry in world football has matched that between Real Madrid and Barcelona–from political and  ideological differences to signing the biggest players in the world and most recently, siting football academies in Nigeria

A fter Barcelona’s experience with FCBESCOLA in Lagos last February, Spanish giants, Real Madrid, and the government of Rivers State recently signed an agreement to set up an academy in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

On Monday, Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye, former Super Eagles player, Adokiye Amiesimaka and the Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly Chief Evans Bipi  took a trip to Spain to sign the terms and conditions of the proposed Real Madrid Academy that would nurture talents in Rivers State.

Vice President of Interact Sports, Mr. Kazma and officials of Real Madrid led Wike and his entourage on a guided tour of Real Madrid Training Facility.Wike toured training facilities of Real Madrid Football Club and met with officials of the club,  football megastar, Cristano Ronaldo  and Real Madrid Captain, Sergio Ramos,  where further modalities were discussed.

In a meeting with Real Madrid stars, Ronaldo and Ramos, Wike said that the objective  of setting up  the Real Madrid Academy in Rivers State was to develop stars that would rule the world in the nearest future

“We are using football as one of the key empowerment programmes for the next generation.  We want to grow international football stars from a tender age. We will  tap from the experience  and exposure of Real Madrid  and their stars. This  is a project that will revolutionise  football  in Rivers State and Nigeria,” Governor Wike noted.

He assured that the academy  to be established  in the state will be of international standards and will take into consideration  the education  of the children.

Ronaldo and Ramos lauded Wike’s commitment to the development of the game.

According to Iyaye, “this will offer players of the state the opportunity to be spotted by Real Madrid and also to train and understand the ideologies and philosophies of Real Madrid.”

Wike on Tuesday met with the leadership of the Real Madrid Foundation as part of the requirements  to establish a Real Madrid Affiliated Football Academy in the state.

Officials of the Real Madrid Foundation were led by Managing Director, Julio Gonzalez and International Area Manager, Rosa Roncal Gimenez.

The meeting which held behind closed doors at the Real Madrid Foundation Office at the Santiago Bernabéu witnessed both parties concluding discussions on the areas of partnership.

In an interview after the meeting, Wike said the deliberation went on satisfactorily, noting that the partnership has reached its highpoint.

The governor said the academy would help the state to harness the opportunities  inherent in football as it would empower the upcoming  generation.

He said, “This is the concluding part of the process of establishing a Real Madrid Academy in Rivers State.  It is our dream to empower our youths through football. Today, you know that football is big business and one of the ways to improve the economy.

“This meeting is the height of our deliberation to get the Academy Started. We are happy that this has gone on satisfactorily.  Rivers youths will reap the benefits of the Academy. “

The highpoint of the meeting was the presentation of a special Real Madrid Jersey for Wike by Gonzalez.

International Area Manager of Real Madrid Foundation , Rosa Roncal Gimenez, lauded the Governor for the initiative to set up a Real Madrid Academy in Rivers State.

No Nigerian player has ever played for Real Madrid senior team. The closest player to doing so was Mutiu Adepoju, who joined Real Madrid in 1988 but never made it to the senior team.

Adepoju scored 26 goals in 67 apperance for Real Madrid team B between 1989-1992. Real Madrid are the current La Liga and Champions League champions.

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Special Courts to Try Over 6,000 Bayelsa Suspected Payroll Fraudsters

At least 6,280 suspected payroll fraudsters and employment racketeers in the civil service in Bayelsa are to face special courts currently being set up by the Bayelsa State Government, WE has learnt.

 In addition, the government’s prosecution team is said to be targeting those working with computer-generated certificates, beneficiaries of ‘indefensible’ astronomical promotions in violation of civil service rules and those receiving salaries from multiple agencies in the proposed action plan.

Already, Governor Seriake Dickson, told members of the Committee on Public Service Reforms that he had alerted the Commissioner of Police and had constituted a committee on prosecution on the ‘massive’ fraud in the state.

 Dickson said that those indicted would be given the opportunity to appear before the  nine-man judicial commission led by Hon. Justice Doris  Adokeme.

 “We have contacted the Commissioner of Police on the need for prosecution. I can assure you that no innocent person would be affected. That is why the Judicial Commission of Inquiry is there. Anybody who has a case, anybody who feels he is not fairly treated has the chance to go there.

 “The prosecution team is waiting and the courts are waiting to commence action soon,” Dickson said.

 It was gathered that the commission has discovered 3, 243 unauthorised employees in the Rural Development Authorities and 3,037 in the eight constitutionally recognised Local Government Areas of the state, making 6,280 so far.

 Dickson was said to be alarmed that many ghost workers were still in the civil service system, despite the fact that he had been able to cut down the wage bill from about N6 billion when he came in five years ago, to roughly N3.6 billion currently. 

Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said that full action on the committee’s report would commence soon, adding that the prosecution of those who committed crimes against the state, was expected. 

“I think that should be expected. If you go out of your way to commit acts against the law, you will face prosecution. 

“We are talking about a fraud perpetrated over the years that has made the state to lose billions of naira. So if the governor, who demonstrated the courage to take on this evil, is making moves to prosecute them, then it should not be a surprise,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the governor yesterday inaugurated a whistle-blower  programme  code-named “Operation Flush out Payroll Fraud.” 

Dickson said the policy was designed to give the citizens the opportunity to communicate directly with  him on security, fraud and related issues in the state.

While giving out the four dedicated lines and social media handles tagged ‘Contriman Direct’, Dickson said it was designed to give the citizens the opportunity to communicate directly with him, adding that all information from concerned citizens would be treated with confidentiality.

He described  payroll fraud as a crime against humanity and the Ijaw nation, stressing that citizens had a responsibility to act against those who receive salaries without working or those receiving multiple salaries.

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Fresh Yellow, Lassa Fever in Plateau

Plateau State government on Friday reported two cases of hemorrhagic fever also called yellow fever in the state. Commissioner of Health in the state Dr. Kuden Kamshak Deyin disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Jos yesterday. He said on the 3rd of October 2017, there were two suspected cases of Hemorrhagic fever at Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BhUTH) Jos. “Of these two cases, one proved positive to both Yellow fever and Lassa fever after laboratory tests, while the other tested positive to only Yellow fever; the children are from the same family in Tudun Wada ward of Jos North local government area. They’ve both been treated and discharged from the hospital. Yellow fever is caused by Flavi virus, and it is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito called Aedes agypti.

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