The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State has expressed concern over what it termed “fresh invasion of the Rivers Judiciary” by the governor Nyesom Wike-led administration.
The party in a statement by Ogbonna Nwuke said it is aware that “these subterranean moves are intended to subjugate the judiciary and strip that arm of government which is the last hope of the common man of its reputation, autonomy and independence”.
The party said its concerns were based on the handling of the recent promotion of magistrates in Rivers State, where “the age-long tradition which emphasizes seniority, experience and competence was thrown overboard”.
“The truth is that younger magistrates under the watch of Governor Wike who claims to be a friend of the judiciary have been made to supersede their seniors on the bench.
“Similarly, the All Progressives Congress has uncovered a plan by the Governor of Rivers State, Barrister Nyesom Wike to influence the recommendation of his wife, Justice Eberechi Wike, for a place in the Court of Appeal.
“We have learnt that the alleged plot, similar in execution to the promotion of junior magistrates above their seniors, is gradually creating sharp divisions within the Rivers State Judiciary.
“Erudite judges currently manning High Courts, according to information garnered from the judiciary, are shocked by attempts by the Wike administration to bastardize the entire system.
“We agree no less. There are 35 Judges who are currently serving in Rivers State. Justice Wike, from information, is placed 24th on the ladder of seniority. Whereas she is senior to 11 serving judges within the State Judiciary there are 23 other Judges who are senior to her.
“The APC is compelled by a sense of duty and a moral obligation to expose the plot that is being hatched by Governor Wike and his associates to deny senior and qualified Rivers judges of a fair chance of growing beyond the High Court system. We think that such a plan, designed to rob Peter in order to pay Paul by some key members of Wike’s kitchen cabinet is callous, despicable, nepotic, unwarranted and unacceptable.
“In fact, this plot, which smacks of unbridled favouritism, has the capacity of confining hard work, the nobility of the legal profession, professional competence and experience as well as respect for seniority – hallmarks that are held in high esteem in the Judiciary – to the rubbish bin. We have earlier admonished the Judiciary of the danger of accepting Wike’s suffocating bear hugs and bone-crushing handshakes. We have maintained that the Governor’s overtures have been primed to compromise the honour and integrity of the State’s judicial arm.
“Those concerns raised as a result of the manipulative tendencies associated with Governor Wike are beginning to surface. It is now known that certain magistrates and judges are being treated as favourites of the Nyesom Wike administration. This development is obviously helping to create a needless dichotomy within the State judiciary. Some of the so-called “friendly judges” have allegedly emerged as beneficiaries of the 20-duplex accommodation facility built by the Government for judges in the State.
“Some are allegedly receiving about N50 million or more from the coffers of the Rivers State Government to build houses of their own under the guise of constructing official residences. In our view, there have been several acts of interference in the activities of the State Judiciary by Governor Nyesom Wike. Many recall how shamelessly he has manipulated the Judiciary in the last few years. Whereas Governor Wike stage-managed the removal of late Chief G. U Ake as State Chairman of the PDP long before the APC was born, in 2019 the same man acting in cahoots with others at large manipulated court processes which stopped the APC from producing viable candidates for the 2019 elections.
“The latest bid to undermine the judiciary is reflected by growing concerns being expressed in judicial quarters that a clandestine move is being made to frog leap the growth of an erudite Judge, and wife of the Governor, Justice Wike, over and above senior judges in the State who have paid their dues. We challenge the Rivers State Government to deny the existence of these facts which are well known in judicial circles. We are surprised that this Government is invidiously attempting to split the ranks of serving Judges. It is against this backdrop that the plot purportedly driven by a cabal, comprised of members of Wike’s Kitchen Cabinet, some senior lawyers and some well-placed judges outside the State should not be allowed to succeed.
“It is a deliberate ploy to undermine age-long practices observed by the Judiciary which have promoted orderliness, decorum and respect for seniors among judges. We urge the Rivers State Governor who is purportedly throwing his weight around the plan which is intended to promote his wife above the head of other judges that are eminently qualified to take up a slot at the Court of Appeal to desist forthwith. We do not think that underhand practices for which this administration is well known should be extended to the judiciary. Besides, there is no information suggesting that Justices who are ahead of Justice Wike in terms of seniority have committed infractions, frowned upon either by the law or conventions that are administrative, which make them ineligible for promotion to the Court of Appeal.
“Our position is that the Judiciary should be insulated from undue influences introduced by members of the political class, which may endanger the quality of justice delivery. While we seize this opportunity to draw the attention of the general public to this sinister plot to compromise standards in the selection of judges for higher office, we think the judiciary should for once stamp its feet on the ground and resist the invalidation of its core traditional values. We are worried that unless the Wike led administration is called to order at once, its actions would destroy the sanctity and integrity of the Judiciary, which is seen as the last hope of the downtrodden.
“Accordingly, we call on well-meaning Rivers people to speak up. As stakeholders, we cannot sit idly by and watch as our democratic institutions are desecrated. The State belongs to all of us. We, therefore, have a duty to defend our institutions against an invasion that is capable of undermining the future of our democracy”
