Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has advised the National Judicial Council(NJC) not to appoint lawyers who lack the potential to be courageous in the discharge of their judicial functions as judges.
Wike said this on Thursday during the swearing-in of Justice Ihenacho Wilfred Obuzor, as the Acting President of the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
According to him, the judiciary has lagged in dispensing its duties as it should.
He maintained that whoever must be appointed a judge should be able to deliver firm judgment according to the law.
“It is unfortunate that the judiciary is not living up to expectation. I should not be one of those who should be criticizing it. But, I am saying what is the reality.
“Any judge that does not have the mind and courage is not supposed to be a judge. So, NJC should consider, look at people, look at the judges, can they be courageous to do what is right?
“It should not be just that this person is intelligent. A judge should be firm and give judgment the way the law says it should be.”
The governor assured that his administration will always protect courageous and bold judges who discharge their duties within the confines of the law.
According to him, one of the reasons the state provides extraction houses to state judges is to protect them from corruption.
“People must do things according to law. But, if you go outside the law and you’re punished, count me out. But, if you’re within the law and anybody thinks that because he has people to punish you, Rivers State government will not agree to it.”
Speaking further, Wike noted that all capital entitlements captured in the state’s 2021 budget due to the judiciary have been released to ensure functionality, as he advised against divisions among judicial officers, which he said would weaken the strength of the bench.
The governor urged the newly installed President of the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal to leverage on the successes of his predecessor and work to make the court stronger in dispensing justice.
He expressed shock and sorrow on the death of the former President of the State Customary Court of Appeal, late Justice Christiana Gabriel-Nwankwo, who he said used her knowledge and skills to advance justice delivery.
