CJN Kekere-Ekun Wades into Rivers Judicial Logjam, Summons Judges over Conflicting Rulings
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has stepped into the political crisis in Rivers State, which has seen Governor Siminalayi Fubara battle with his predecessor Nyesom Wike.
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, and his counterpart in the Rivers State High Court, Justice I. Igwe, are among judges to appear before a committee set up to probe issues of conflicting and contradictory court orders in respect of court cases involving Rivers State.
The committee chaired by a former Supreme Court Justice, Rhodes-Vivour (Rtd ) is expected to commence sitting from Tuesday.
The committee which includes two other heads of courts is expected to send its report this week, following which the NJC will then meet and take necessary disciplinary actions against anyone found guilty.
Following the worrisome situation the Rivers issue has generated, it was learnt that the CJN, who is the chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC), decided to invite the affected judges including the head of the Federal High Court, whose court has been on the spotlight for sometime now.
This development comes after formal complaints were filed with the Council. It is understood that the CJN individually ordered the comprehensive probe.
While Justice Igwe had in a suit brought by the All People’s Party (APP) ordered INEC to release the voter’ register used for the conduct of the 2023 general election to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), for the purpose of conducting local government elections slated for October 5, Justice Lifu on the other hand ordered INEC not to release same register to the RSIEC until it has been updated.
Similarly, while Igwe in the September 5 judgement ordered security agencies to provide security during the LG polls, Lifu had ordered to the contrary.
The two conflicting orders had nearly led to a breakdown of law and order in the state before and during the elections as some thugs, factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP), said to be loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wike, did everything to stop and frustrate the conduct of the poll, held last Saturday.
Besides, three LG secretariats were raised by people protesting against the conduct of the LG polls.
The arsonists were believed to have capitalized on the withdrawal of the police which have kept the 23 local government secretariats under lock and key for about three months.
Meanwhile, another panel chaired by a retired judge of the appellate court is also expected to investigate the Imo State Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Chikeka on alleged age falsification.
The committee investigating alleged age falsification against the Imo State CJ, Justice Theresa Chikeka, is also expected to submit their own report within the week.
Justice Chikeka is being accused of having three separate dates of birth. According to a source at the NJC, the date of birth the CJ claimed when she joined the judiciary in Borno state was different from the one she submitted to the Imo State judiciary and the one in the NJC record.
