As early as 6 am, people of Rivers State launched a massive street protest over what they described as the “double standard and impunity” of the NJC, with members of the National and Rivers Assemblies, government officials and other eminent personalities involved. The protesters were angered that Justice Okocha broke into the court complex on Tuesday, in spite of the ongoing indefinite strike by members of the Judiciary Staff Union on Nigeria (JUSUN), Rivers chapter, on the crisis in the state’s judiciary.
However, fully-armed and stern-looking policemen prevented the protesters from moving close to the main gate of the high court complex, which was barricaded with two Toyota Hilux vans. The leader of the police team, Clement Okonkwo, politely told the protesters that they were at the gate to ensure peace and to prevent the breakdown of law and order.
Amaechi, who spoke through the Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Tony Okocha, who doubles as his Political Adviser, expressed disappointment on the attitude of the members of the NJC, who were accused of taking sides. He said, “The confusion in Rivers State Judiciary is caused by the NJC and the powers that be (the Federal Government of Nigeria/President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration). The CJN knows better, this one is trite in law. It is not subject to interpretation, whose interest are members of the NJC serving?”
“We also heard that their intention is to concoct a scenario where six Rivers House of Assembly members will claim to have sat and impeached Governor Amaechi and hand over a paper to her (Justice Daisy Okocha) to set up a kangaroo panel and on the same day, a decision is reached that Governor Amaechi has been impeached, just to cause confusion and crisis in Rivers State.”
“The crisis in the Rivers State Judiciary is indeed uncalled for. The law is clear. The person who has the powers to appoint the Chief Judge is certainly the Governor of Rivers State. It is not about the Governor of Rivers State; it is about the law. The Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has appointed a Chief Judge (Justice Peter Agumagu), but the NJC is interfering. To the extent that the person who was appointed was suspended by the NJC and the matter is in court.
“We heard that NJC is appointing an Administrative Chief Judge (Justice Daisy Okocha), that is not known to the law. The powers to appoint, no matter the nomenclature it is given, do not reside with the NJC. You can see the entire confusion. To make matters worse, we heard that the woman purportedly appointed by the NJC as Administrative Chief Judge, went to the Rivers State High Court, Port Harcourt yesterday (Tuesday) and met with some judges. As a lawyer and a judge, she knows that it is a crime in the Nigerian law that you do not break and enter, for whatever it is worth.”
“That is why you saw millions of Rivers people, who spontaneously came out to say there are no two governors in Rivers State. The Rivers State Governor must be allowed to perform his functions, part of which he has done.”
The governor said: “Let the Constitution be obeyed. We are not asking for any other favour. The members of the Rivers State House of Assembly this (yesterday) morning organised a public hearing on amendment to the law. There seems to be a lacuna and the law does not allow vacuum. The lawmakers observed that litigants are suffering and people can no longer access the courts. So, the best they intend to do is to amend the law. It appears there is a little difficulty in the appointment of Chief Judge and the lawmakers want to give the powers to the Chief Registrar.”
Addressing the protesters on behalf of the national lawmakers, Senator Abe condemned the NJC for appointing Okocha the Acting CJ. Abe reiterated that the appointment of state CJ is the constitutional right of the governor. He alleged that the five anti- Amaechi lawmakers: Evans Bipi (Ogu/Bolo), Kelechi Nwogu(Omuma), Martin Amaewhule(Obio/Akpor 1), victor Ihunwo (Port Harcourt 3), and Micheal Chinda (Obio/Akpor 2), were making frantic efforts to impose Justice Okocha on the state to clear their way towards Amaechi’s impeachment. He vowed that the people would not allow that to happen.