The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has cautioned against dragging the judiciary into the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, warning that such actions could undermine public trust in the legal system.
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The warning follows the Rivers State House of Assembly’s call for the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, over alleged age falsification.
Port Harcourt NBA Chairman, Cordelia Eke, emphasized that such matters should be handled by the National Judicial Council (NJC), not the DSS.
“The appropriate channel for such an issue is the NJC, not the DSS,” Eke stated, expressing disappointment that tensions continued to rise despite the Supreme Court ruling, which was expected to bring closure to the dispute.
She urged political actors to respect the separation of powers and seek alternative dispute resolution mechanisms instead of escalating tensions through political maneuvering.
“The executive, legislature, and judiciary each have constitutional roles that must be respected. If any party is dissatisfied with a judgment, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms should be explored rather than resorting to political maneuvering,” Eke advised.
She further highlighted the potential economic impact of the crisis, warning that instability in Rivers State could deter investors and disrupt governance.
Meanwhile, the political standoff escalated as the Rivers State House of Assembly accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of failing to comply with the Supreme Court ruling mandating him to present the 2025 budget afresh.
Lawmakers loyal to Fubara’s estranged political godfather, Nyesom Wike, disputed the governor’s claim that he had written to the Assembly regarding the budget presentation, insisting that no official correspondence had been received.
Assembly spokesman Enemi George challenged the governor to provide an acknowledged copy of the letter he purportedly sent, dismissing reports of a WhatsApp message as “awkward, unprofessional, and embarrassing.”
George also accused the governor of frustrating efforts to resolve the crisis, rejecting Assembly communication and directing state agencies not to engage with lawmakers.
In response, Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Joseph Johnson, insisted that Fubara had formally written to the Assembly and urged lawmakers to convene an emergency session to address the budget presentation.
“We have proposed Wednesday, March 19, for the budget presentation. If the House has received our communication, I expect them to create a pathway for this to happen,” Johnson said.
As the crisis intensifies, stakeholders continue to call for dialogue and a peaceful resolution to prevent further disruption to governance in the state.
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