Fubara Vows Full Implementation Of Supreme Court Judgment

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his commitment to fully implementing the recent Supreme Court judgment, emphasizing that his administration will adhere strictly to the ruling.

Fubara made this declaration on Tuesday in Port Harcourt during the inauguration of the New Judges’ Quarters, built by his administration in the Old GRA area of the state capital.

The governor stressed that no personal ambition or political dispute should supersede the collective peace and stability of Rivers State, stating that no sacrifice is too great for peace.

The governor acknowledged that the past 16 months had been rough for his government, saying that he would leave office one day but that his good work would speak for him.

He said since the crisis started a lot of money and resources that should have been channelled to the development of the state had been wasted by both sides.

He said: “It has not been easy these past sixteen months, but what is important is the interest of our state must be above our personal interest.

“I want to say it here very clearly the Supreme Court has given a judgment, my administration will implement the judgment to its fullest. The reason is clear, it is not about me, it is about the good of this state.

“We can imagine the kind of waste that has taken place in both sides. These are money that if we have used it in the affairs of this state there would have been a lot of things to show. Thank God for where we are today.

“I can assure you that any day, any time, I have not gone back on my statement that nothing is too big to pay for peace in this state. Because at the end of the day, it is about our people. It is not about me, because I will leave but the good that I have done will speak for my administration.”

The governor described the event as special, observing the presence of a former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) O.C.J Okocha, SAN, referring to him as an unusual person.

He said: “Today is a special day because we have a very unusual person in our midst and I want to honestly appreciate his presence, Chief O.C.J Okocha. We are happy that you are here with us.”

The governor said the project was a further proof that his administration took the issue of welfare seriously and recalled that the project was inherited from the former government.

He stated, “When we came on board this particular project is one of the projects that we inherited and after the reports that we received from the ministry and some concerns that were made from the judiciary we felt it doesn’t matter who started the project and it doesn’t matter who the contractor is, but what is important is to complete this project because it is all about Rivers State.”

He asked the Chief Judge to work with the government on the issue of maintenance of the new quarters to keep the facilities in a good shape

In his remarks, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Chibuzor Amadi, described the inauguration as another milestone and great accomplishment for Rivers judiciary.

He recalled that he laid the foundation for the project as part of activities marking the end of the administration of former Governor Nyesom Wike with Governor Fubara in attendance.

He said: “We are pleased with this landmark achievement which represents the continuation of the policy of providing befitting residential accommodations for the judges of Rivers State on owner occupier basis or monetary grant in lieu thereof.

“This is backed by Rivers State housing scheme for judicial officers law number 10 of 2021. By the extant National Judicial Council guidelines for appointment of judges in Nigeria availability of official residential accommodation and official vehicles are essential for the grant of approval by the National Judicial Council to any State for appointment of new judges.”

He said having official residential accommodation was a necessity for any judicial officer in view of the sensitive and important duties of their office.

Justice Amadi thanked Governor Fubara, for keeping heads up and completing the legacy project for the enhancement of the judicial duties of judges of Rivers State.

He said the policy of providing official accommodation for judges had reduced greatly the pressure on judicial officers, who hitherto struggled to build retirement home while in service with limited resources.

He commended Fubara for keeping up with the policy and delivering the project on record time and also told the governor that there was a need for construction of more quarters for judges to cater for future appointments, since having residential accommodation had become a mandatory requirement by the NJC for the appointment of new judges.

Amadi said: “It is not only a policy, NJC sets panels to any State wanting to appoint judges to inspect the houses and also see the vehicles. In many instances they take the keys of the vehicles to Abuja, because we have had instances where some States hire vehicles and after inspection the vehicles are returned. But that has not been the case in Rivers State.”

He congratulated the beneficiaries of the apartments saying they would own the houses after their retirement.

While thanking the governor for his unflinching support for the Rivers judiciary, Amadi said the judges would remain committed to discharging their statutory duties for the peace, security and economic growth of Rivers.