Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy Professor Ngozi Odu in the midst of judicial officers at the dedication ceremony marking the commencement of the new legal yearGod Would Be Judge Over You, Governor Fubara Says To All Judges
● As the 2024/2025 Legal Year begins
By PHC Telegraph
“Some of you, you say you are legal luminaries”, Governor Siminalayi Fubara said while addressing judicial officers at the commencement of the 2024/2025 Legal Year.
“You know the truth, but you will go on air just to pacify your pay masters to turn the law upside down” the State’s number one citizen stressed as he spoke.
Fubara drove the point, “We all know the law when it comes to issues that have to do with the administration of governance in the State; it is (issues) within the jurisdiction of the State High Court.
“It doesn’t matter whether you joined INEC, or Police. It is a State’s matter! I am not a lawyer, but I know that one. And you stand and say you are doing the right thing? God will judge you.”
Governor Siminalayi Fubara in a warm handshake with the Chief judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi.Those comments were perhaps, a reflection of how the Governor views the role that some judicial officers are playing at a time that forum shopping has become the order of the day.
Critics of the judiciary across the country allege judges are up for sale.
They allege that the kind of decisions that are rolling out from courts of coordinate or equal jurisdiction suggest judges are no longer bound by certain judicial ethics.
Addressing the cream of the Rivers Judiciary during the dedication of the new year to God at St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Fubara restated his resolve to defend the course of justice, no matter what it will cost.
He described the Judiciary as a sacred temple of justice which should do good to all manner of people who appear before it, stating that it is wrong for people on the Bench to smear the image of the institution.
According to him, judges are seen to represent God and so, must not be afraid to look at those who come to equity in the eye as they go ahead to dispense justice rightly without fear or favour.
As he put it, “Let me say it here so that you will understand: Judges, you are the God that we are seeing. Your position is to stand and defend us. Your position is to look at whoever and tell the person the truth.
“Because if you don’t do it here, you will have a big question to answer. The preacher said it, every evil done in the course of administering justice, you will pay for it dearly.”
Fubara thanked the Rivers State Judiciary, particularly, the High Court Divisions for their sundry support that has kept the administration going.
“I want to thank the Rivers State Judiciary, more especially, the High Court of Rivers State, for your support, for keeping this administration afloat up untill this hour.
“We know quite alright that a good number of you have been threatened by way of phone calls and even physical assaults.
“We are also aware that some of you have been threatened professionally through petitions that are fake and frivolous.
“But one thing that you need to understand is that you must be persecuted when you are doing the right thing.
“And those of you who are doing the right thing that are being fought from all sides, be courageous. Very soon, this whole thing will be over. Nothing lasts forever”, he explained
The Governor assured the leadership of the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi of the support of his administration.
He pledged he would neither urge the Chief Judge nor serving judges to do anything that is wrong.
Governor Fubara hinted that the task ahead involved building strong institutions that will help entrench democracy and promote good governance.
“What we are praying for in this country is institutional strength and not individual strength”, Fubara remarked, “Institutional strength is the only thing that will bring development in this country.
“If I am a businessman, and I am coming into Nigeria to invest, why will I invest when what I am seeing today is that institutions are weak and individuals are stronger than institutions?”
Saying all hands must be on deck in order to defend the State and democracy, the Rivers Governor said:
“This State belongs to all of us. It is not about Fubara today. If this institution is destroyed, when another person comes in tomorrow, it is the same thing that will happen.
“We need to stand and defend it, and you are the right people to do it. I am here today to assure you that even if I have my last breath, I will defend the cause of justice in this State.”
Fubara spoke of the support he has received so far from persons who have remained resolute in fending off predators who are determined to destabilize the State.
He observed that it has not been easy piloting the affairs of the State in the face of challenges posed by detractors.
But he said that with the support of Rivers people who have stood with him in these turbulent times, his administration has remained focused.
“A lot of the good works that we are doing, the enemy is overshadowing with bad news”, the Governor revealed.
“Very soon, we are going to go into areas and programmes to showcase what we have been doing, not just for the Judiciary, but other aspects of governance in our dear State.
“I want to thank and assure you that I will continue to support you (Judiciary). And my prayers, as you start your new legal year, is that God will be with you, God will support you.”
Governor Fubara recalled that October, 2023, the story was different, but today, one year after, everybody is smiling because of the grace of God.
In a sermon entitled “Called To Uphold Justice”, the Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta North, Rt. Rev. Wisdom Budu Ihunwo, warned that Nigeria is falling to pieces, owing partly to conflicting judgments that are emanating from courts of coordinate jurisdiction,.
He said that such judicial pronouncements are rather deepening the festering crisis instead of healing the wounds of the nation
According to him, such actions that are coming from the Judiciary jeopardises unity and affects smooth governance in the nation.
He acknowledged that Nigerians have become direct or indirect victims of an evolving justice system thst is brutish.
Those who engage in such acts the Bishop warned, will be punished by God no matter how long it takes.
The State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, read the only Lesson of the Service.