By Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt
The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday confirmed Justice Simeon Amadi as the Chief Judge.

He is the second most senior judge of the state High Court.

It followed a letter from Governor Nyesom Wike which sought Amadi’s confirmation and approval based on the National Judicial Council (NJC) recommendation.

The Speaker, Ikwuinyi Owaji-Ibani, said the incumbent Chief Judge, Justice Adama Iyaye Laminkara, will retire on May 25.

Part of the governor’s letter reads: “The NJC has recommended Simeon C. Amadi for appointment as Chief Judge of Rivers State following the imminent retirement of the incumbent CJ, Justice A. I. Laminkara, from service on 25, May 2021.”




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“I have considered NJC’s recommendation as well as qualification, character and service experience of Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi and found him proper and suitable person to become the next Chief Judge of the state.

“Accordingly, pursuant to the provisions of section 201(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it is my pleasure to forward to you the recommendation and appointment of Justice Amadi to the Rivers State House of Assembly for confirmation and approval.”

Amadi served as the Chief Registrar of the state in 1999 and was appointed a judge in 2002.

He chaired the judicial panel of inquiry that investigated and sacked the Vice Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Lawrence Chukwu when Wike was the executive chairman of the council.

He is also the chairman of the panel of investigation on the destruction at the state high court premises in 2018, among others.

Confirming his recommendation, the Speaker said the lawmakers relied on Section 201(1), which gave the governor the power to follow the recommendation of the NJC in the appointment of a substantive chief judge.

The lawmakers did not quiz the nominee as he was asked to take a bow and go.



They promised to transmit his confirmation to the governor for swearing-in.

Amadi hails from Emohua Local Government Area, the same Ikwerre ethnic group as the governor.

It was earlier reported that stakeholders were not happy that the most senior judge, Justice Joy Akpughunum, was overlooked for the top job.

Read Also: Burna Boy pride of Rivers, says Wike
It is the tradition to appoint the most senior judge as the Chief Judge where there is a vacancy.

A group of lawyers had opposed what they described as the imposition of Justice Amadi as the chief judge.
https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thenationonlineng.net/rivers-assembly-confirms-second-most-senior-judge-as-chief-judge/&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjm-YGlq-XvAhWmyIUKHc7HCMQQFjADegQICBAB&usg=AOvVaw23qN-yUusCVTRRhv9HsY3M
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Nigeria

Wike with his ikwerre agenda has succeeded in alienating his tiny ikwerre group

Of course, Wailers will be silent like a grave yard. This is not Sanwo Olu or El Rufai, it's Saint - Nyesom Wike of the Poverty Development Party.




I AM DONE TALKING

Sirjamo:
Of course, Wailers will be silent like a grave yard. This is not Sanwo Olu or El Rufai, it's Saint - Nyesom Wike of the Poverty Development Party.




I AM DONE TALKING

Why are you bothered about this one? Buhari has done worse than this and I never heard you say anything. So you actually know what is wrong and right?

garfield1:

By Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt
The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday confirmed Justice Simeon Amadi as the Chief Judge.

He is the second most senior judge of the state High Court.

It followed a letter from Governor Nyesom Wike which sought Amadi’s confirmation and approval based on the National Judicial Council (NJC) recommendation.

The Speaker, Ikwuinyi Owaji-Ibani, said the incumbent Chief Judge, Justice Adama Iyaye Laminkara, will retire on May 25.

Part of the governor’s letter reads: “The NJC has recommended Simeon C. Amadi for appointment as Chief Judge of Rivers State following the imminent retirement of the incumbent CJ, Justice A. I. Laminkara, from service on 25, May 2021.”




ADVERTISEMENT
“I have considered NJC’s recommendation as well as qualification, character and service experience of Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi and found him proper and suitable person to become the next Chief Judge of the state.

“Accordingly, pursuant to the provisions of section 201(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it is my pleasure to forward to you the recommendation and appointment of Justice Amadi to the Rivers State House of Assembly for confirmation and approval.”

Amadi served as the Chief Registrar of the state in 1999 and was appointed a judge in 2002.

He chaired the judicial panel of inquiry that investigated and sacked the Vice Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Lawrence Chukwu when Wike was the executive chairman of the council.

He is also the chairman of the panel of investigation on the destruction at the state high court premises in 2018, among others.

Confirming his recommendation, the Speaker said the lawmakers relied on Section 201(1), which gave the governor the power to follow the recommendation of the NJC in the appointment of a substantive chief judge.

The lawmakers did not quiz the nominee as he was asked to take a bow and go.



They promised to transmit his confirmation to the governor for swearing-in.

Amadi hails from Emohua Local Government Area, the same Ikwerre ethnic group as the governor.

It was earlier reported that stakeholders were not happy that the most senior judge, Justice Joy Akpughunum, was overlooked for the top job.

Read Also: Burna Boy pride of Rivers, says Wike
It is the tradition to appoint the most senior judge as the Chief Judge where there is a vacancy.

A group of lawyers had opposed what they described as the imposition of Justice Amadi as the chief judge.
https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thenationonlineng.net/rivers-assembly-confirms-second-most-senior-judge-as-chief-judge/&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjm-YGlq-XvAhWmyIUKHc7HCMQQFjADegQICBAB&usg=AOvVaw23qN-yUusCVTRRhv9HsY3M
Mynd44
Lalasticlala
Africonji
Fergie001
Silver tongue
Seanfer
Chrisxxx
Sonoyom
Exposition
Kinematics
Bennycollins
Helinues
Zoedew
Adegbaorogbaye
Eriokanmi

Wike is supposed to be a Lawyer and Bencher. Quite an unfortunate state of things. Politicisation of the Judiciary.

I'm not surprised. Wike and his Ikwerre agenda continues..

Nepotism and Injustice everywhere

Kinematics:
I'm not surprised. Wike and his Ikwerre agenda continues..

It is now incumbent on the rest of rivers people to unite and seize power

Mysticwebb:

Why are you bothered about this one? Buhari has done worse than this and I never heard you say anything. So you actually know what is wrong and right?

How has buhari done worse? Which junior judge has he elevated above a senior one!?

telkevog:
Nepotism and Injustice everywhere

In rivers not everywhere

zoedew:


Wike is supposed to be a Lawyer and Bencher. Quite an unfortunate state of things. Politicisation of the Judiciary.

He is a charge and bail lawyer ofcourse

We should understand what the law says before jumping to conclusions.

Sonoyom:
We should understand what the law says before jumping to conclusions.

.
And what does the law says? Why shy away from attacking wike?

the National judicial council should be blamed here not wike


they recommended the appointment of Amadi as CJ ....wike would have been blamed if NJC recommended the most senior justice and he refused to appoint her

garfield1:
.
And what does the law says? Why shy away from attacking wike?

When the appointment is in acting capacity, it is automatic that the most senior judge takes over but appointment of substantive chief judge the NJC reserves the right to appoint anyone who is qualified to hold that position.
We are criticising Wike, when a reverse situation occurred in Cross River we still criticised Ayade.
My question is this did the governor influence the decision of the NJC?

TotoGame:
the National judicial council should be blamed here not wike


they recommended the appointment of Amadi as CJ ....wike would have been blamed if NJC recommended the most senior justice and he refused to appoint her

Exactly, ignorance of the law is a big challenge to a lot of us.

The decision seems to have been taken on recommendation of the NJC...


"Section 271(1) of the Constitution provides that 'The appointment of a person to the office of the Chief Judge of a State shall be made by the Governor of the State on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, subject to the confirmation of the appointment by the House of Assembly of the State,'".

There are a number of checks so I don't see how Wike is to blame. First, the NJC recommended... Secondly, the SHA could have rejected the nomination...

Sonoyom:

When the appointment is in acting capacity, it is automatic that the most senior judge takes over but appointment of substantive chief judge the NJC reserves the right to appoint anyone who is qualified to hold that position.
We are criticising Wike, when a reverse situation occurred in Cross River we still criticised Ayade.
My question is this did the governor influence the decision of the NJC?

Yes,the governor obviously influenced the njc.he has the capacity.from the reply of the govt last week,it was clear

ivandragon:
The decision seems to have been taken on recommendation of the NJC...


"Section 271(1) of the Constitution provides that 'The appointment of a person to the office of the Chief Judge of a State shall be made by the Governor of the State on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, subject to the confirmation of the appointment by the House of Assembly of the State,'".

There are a number of checks so I don't see how Wike is to blame. First, the NJC recommended... Secondly, the SHA could have rejected the nomination...

Wike simply influenced the njc to pick amadi instead of joy.some groups foresaw this and raised alarm about it long ago even before wike made the recommendation.it was his plan all along.it has never happened

garfield1:


Yes,the governor obviously influenced the njc.he has the capacity.from the reply of the govt last week,it was clear

when Ayade rejected the appointment of the NJC he was criticised, Wike accepted the appointment of the NJC he is criticised and you are already bringing elections into it.
Next week Saturday is LGA and Ward elections in the state maybe the APC should start by winning a single councillorship position.

Sonoyom:

when Ayade rejected the appointment of the NJC he was criticised, Wike accepted the appointment of the NJC he is criticised and you are already bringing elections into it.
Next week Saturday is LGA and Ward elections in the state maybe the APC should start by winning a single councillorship position.

Apc are not taking part in the jamboree lg elections in which wike has selected people already.ayade is senseless,he doesn't know how to play politics or influence njc like wike.wike has always wanted amadi so he didn't wait for the njc to decide.never in nigeria history has a junior judge been made cjn over his seniors

garfield1:


Wike simply influenced the njc to pick amadi instead of joy.some groups foresaw this and raised alarm about it long ago even before wike made the recommendation.it was his plan all along.it has never happened

That might be so, but the facts of the matter are what we can only rely on...

The Judiciary & Legislature are independent bodies (in theory at least lol.), So the angst should be directed at them & not Wike

ivandragon:


That might be so, but the facts of the matter are what we can only rely on...

The Judiciary & Legislature are independent bodies (in theory at least lol.), So the angst should be directed at them & not Wike

In theory,they are independent but in practice,they are not especially rivers house of assembly.they are at the mercy of wike.without any manipulation from wike,justice joy will be the chief judge

garfield1:


In theory,they are independent but in practice,they are not especially rivers house of assembly.they are at the mercy of wike.without any manipulation from wike,justice joy will be the chief judge

To an extent, I agree with you. But the fact remains that it is the NJC that made the nomination & as such due process was followed.

ivandragon:


To an extent, I agree with you. But the fact remains that it is the NJC that made the nomination & as such due process was followed.

The fact is that they will never nominate a junior over a senior except there is external influence

Kinematics:
I'm not surprised. Wike and his Ikwerre agenda continues..

is this how you will rule yourselves in the so called Niger Delta Republic

When last did you hear of this happening in south east or south west.

The other day it was cross River,..now it's Rivers..

Niger Delta Republic is an audio Republic that only surfaces whenever Igbos mention Biafra.

Truth is most Igbos would gladly remove you from the equation if it wouldn't mean Biafra being surrounded on all sides by Nigeria (the actual aim of the state creation of 1967)

garfield1:


Apc are not taking part in the jamboree lg elections in which wike has selected people already.ayade is senseless,he doesn't know how to play politics or influence njc like wike.wike has always wanted amadi so he didn't wait for the njc to decide.never in nigeria history has a junior judge been made cjn over his seniors

Did he contradict any part of the Constitution?
If you think he did maybe you should just state it when next you are quoting me.