ACCESS TO JUSTICE

After being shut for a year, the Rivers State judiciary is back at full throttle, writes Simeon Nwakaudu

Access to justice to resolve societal challenges which border on the very existence of the community defines civility. However, the immediate past administration in Rivers State denied the people access to justice and destroyed the fundamentals of the judicial system.

Between August 19, 2013 and May 13, 2015, the Rivers State Judiciary suffered the worst political onslaught engineered by the immediate past administration of the All Progressives Congress. This unfortunate political manipulation led to the crippling of the Rivers State Judiciary and the deliberate destruction of the very essence of the justice delivery system.

The unimaginable happened during this inglorious era. The immediate past administration in liaison with politically-motivated officials of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) closed the courts for one year, perhaps the worst in the annals of the nation’s political history. Not even during the military era was the judiciary assaulted in such a manner.

The revival of the judiciary stands out as one of the most outstanding achievements of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike since he assumed office as the elected governor of Rivers State.

Right from the day of his inauguration, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike kick-started the process of rebuilding the battered structures of the state judiciary. On May 29, 2015 after taking his oath of office, Governor Wike in his inaugural address announced the appointment of an acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Daisy Okocha and an acting President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Christy Gabriel-Nwankwo.

These two key judicial officers were sworn in June 1, 2015. This was the beginning of the visionary revival of the Rivers State Judiciary. On Thursday, November 5, 2015, the revived judiciary held her first special court session marking the opening of the 2015/2016 legal year. This was the first time the event was holding in over two years. The last celebration of a legal year was held under the state’s former Chief Judge, Justice Iche Ndu whose retirement gave rise to the avoidable crisis.

The opening of the 2015/2016 legal year kicked off with a re-dedication service at Saint Paul’s Anglican Cathedral in Port Harcourt. The service which was presided over by the Archbishop of Niger Delta Province of the Anglican Church, Most Reverend Ignatius Kattey had in attendance Governor Nyesom Wike, his wife, Justice Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, the leadership of the Rivers State Judiciary, members of the bench and bar and top government officials.

The re-dedication service witnessed the leadership of the Rivers State Judiciary making vows to uphold justice, promote access to justice and be fair to all those who appear before them in their respective courts. After the service, the process for the commencement of the 2015/2016 legal year started in earnest at the state high complex with the inspection of guard of honour and other outlined ceremonies. There was excitement among the stakeholders.

The special court session marking the opening of the 2015/2016 Legal Year was the highpoint of events indicating the successful revival of the Rivers State Judiciary. The special court session which held at the Chief Judge’s Ceremonial Court Hall in Port Harcourt November 5, 2015, had in attendance Governor Wike, the leadership of the Rivers State Judiciary, the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, justices from other jurisdictions, senior lawyers, members of the Rivers State Executive Council, the leadership of the bar across Rivers State and hundreds of lawyers.

It was a special court session where all stakeholders declared their support for the achievements of Governor Wike in the revival of the Rivers State Judiciary. All the stakeholders insisted that the deliberate investments of the Wike administration have led to massive infrastructural and human resource development within the state judiciary.

The Acting Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Daisy Okocha after outlining the challenges the state judiciary faced as a result of political interference in the last era, noted that the critical steps taken by Nyesom Wike has ensured the independence of the state judiciary and the development of critical infrastructure in the state justice delivery system.

The state acting Chief Judge further stated that the success of the commencement of the 2015/2016 Legal Year was a function of the governor’s commitment to the dispensation of justice. She recounted a long list of projects facilitated by the prompt release of funds by Governor Wike.

Rivers State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Mr Emmanuel Aguma, SAN, stated that Wike has already fulfilled the cardinal campaign promises he made regarding the state judiciary. He added that the Wike administration has developed a land titles acquisition framework and also taken steps to improve the justice delivery system.

Speaking on behalf of the Senior Advocates of Nigeria in Rivers State, former National President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Onueze Okocha commended Governor Wike for rising above the challenges he inherited to rebuild the state’s judiciary. Chairman of the Port Harcourt Branch of the NBA, Dennis Okwakpam joined in celebrating the progress made so far.

Governor Nyesom Wike’s address made it obvious that the judiciary has firmly transited to its glorious era after two years of avoidable turbulence. However, the governor ensured he reminded his audience of the dangers of manipulating the judiciary when he copiously quoted Justice Simeon Amadi who delivered the judgment on the suit filed by former Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

Governor Wike told stakeholders of the Rivers State Judiciary that never again will the people of the state be denied access to justice in the form of closure of courts. He declared that never again will the State Judiciary be compelled to go cap in hand to the executive arm to beg for funds as his administration has instituted self- accounting status for the judiciary.

Governor Wike stated that his administration has also released funds to the State Judiciary for capital projects in courts and judicial facilities across the state. According to him, his administration released N350 million to the State High Court for capital projects , N150 million to the State Customary Court of Appeal and another N200 million to the High Court for additional capital projects. He said additional capital funds will also be approved for the Customary Court of Appeal. As a political scientist and lawyer who is very conversant with the importance of welfare and social security for judicial officers, staff of the judiciary and lawyers, Governor Wike announced different categories of welfare packages aimed at encouraging these professionals to serve Rivers State to the best of their ability.

He informed that the administration has commenced the building of a new law centre for lawyers in the state , the construction of a new Federal High Court complex and the execution of other key projects. Nwakaudu is Special Assistant (Media) to the Rivers State Governor