By Tina Amanda
The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simone Chibuzor-Amadi, has pledged continued collaboration between the judiciary and law enforcement, particularly with the Nigerian Police, to ensure justice in the state.
Justice Chibuzor-Amadi made this commitment during a courtesy visit by the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Mustapha Mohammed-Bala, and his team to the judiciary complex in Port Harcourt.
During the meeting, Justice Chibuzor-Amadi advised the Commissioner to carefully select officers assigned to investigate cases, emphasizing the importance of having officers with a basic understanding of the law.
He also urged the new CP to help decongest the state’s correctional centers by ensuring that minor cases, such as petty theft, are not escalated to serious criminal charges and that individuals are properly charged according to the specifics of each case, rather than grouping minor offenders with those accused of kidnapping or armed robbery.
Justice Chibuzor-Amadi also raised concerns about police harassment of judges at checkpoints, stressing that such behavior undermines respect for the judiciary.
The Chief Judge noted that the Rivers State High Court now operates in fourteen (14) judicial divisions, including new branches in Abua/Odual and Bonny, with twenty-seven (27) magistrates’ courts, forty-six (46) judges, and fifty-six (56) magistrates.
In response, CP Mustapha Mohammed-Bala stated that his visit was intended to foster collaboration and support from the judiciary to ensure that justice is served efficiently in Rivers State.
“We want to make peace in Rivers State and we can not ensure that peace without collaborating with whoever is critical in the society, particularly the judiciary. We need to partner with critical institutions.
“I am here to seek your engagement and synergy so that together we can ensure justice is served to the ordinary eyes of the common man. We can not serve justice without engagement, and collaboration with the judiciary.
“The Nigerian Police as an institution is operating under the umbrella of the judiciary, we can not dispense justice without the support of the judiciary.
“We are a law enforcement agency and we must operate within the confines of the law. Where our Police officers are going astray, I want to crave your indulgence to draw our attention so that we administratively treat them and show them the way out.”
