Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has insisted that there is no law that permits the judiciary to submit budgetary demands to the state house of assembly.
He said that his administration will give the judiciary all that it needs but will not allow it to submit its budget to the assembly.
There have been demands by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN for the Judicial arm to submit its own budget to the assembly.
He disclosed this during the swearing-in ceremony of the new chief judge of the state, Justice Simeon Amadi.
He charged the new Chief Judge to be firm, courageous and surpass the achievements he is inheriting from his predecessor.
Governor Wike stated that one of the bests ways for him to be reckoned with as a successful judge is for him to be decisive about the speedy delivery of justice processes.
This, he said, can be done by making sure that case files are not only assigned but actually treated and dispensed with and judgement given based on the merit of the case.
Governor Wike said such fate is also a hallmark of judiciary independence that is being clamoured for.
“Please, let everybody work with you together. If anybody does not do his duty, you are the Chief Judge, you know what to do. Do not panic.
“Show that you have leadership. Whether the person was your classmate or not, is immaterial.”
The governor advised the new Chief Judge not to be afraid of petitions against him either from individuals or from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) because such petitions and animosity could be without the facts or justification.
He urged Justice Amadi to discharge his duties in a manner that will make the state proud as it was under his predecessor.
“Anywhere I go in Abuja, they talk about my (former) Chief Judge. I still want you to maintain that relationship.
“Let people talk about you, maintain a cordial relationship with your colleagues outside and at home too. ”
Governor Wike also assured that his administration will continue with the robust relationship established with the judiciary under Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra, which has also been the situation with the legislature.
“Whatever is meant for the judiciary, we will not look back in doing it. I have said here, we will continue with the financial autonomy.
“The one I will not agree to, is that the judiciary should go and submit budget to the State Assembly. There is no law that says so.”
Governor Wike told him to set out a timeline of achievement and be ready to show evidence in the next six months of assumption of duty.
“You’ve been a Magistrate and Chief Registrar, so you know what administration is all about. Try as much as you can to surpass the achievements she made.
“So you too will have to say, while you were in office that this was what you did.”
