The Open Bar Initiative has faulted the claim of The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, that the National Judicial Council nominee for Chief Judge of the state, Honourable Justice Daisy Okocha is senior to Justice PNC Adumagu.

In a statement made available to TheNigeriaLawyer, the group said Justice Adumagu is two years older than OCJ Okocha who is senior to Justice Daisy Okocha in the profession

They added that Justice Adumagu was appointed as High Court Judge before Justice Okocha

The statement reads, “During a visit to the Rivers State Governor by Ikwerre Lawyers, the Governor of Rivers State claimed that the NJC ascertained that Justice Daisy Okocha was senior to Justice PNC Okocha. This is an imaginary assertion by the Governor.

“Available record shows that Justice Agumagu was called to the Bar in 1975, two years before OCJ Okocha, who is older than Justice Daisy in the legal profession.

“That aside, as at 1990 when Hon. Justice PNC Agumagu was appointed as a Judge of the Rivers State High Court, Hon. Justice Daisy Okocha was not a judge of the High Court. How then did she become his senior in Wike’s misleading claim?” the Group queried

Open Bar Initiative also faulted governor Wike on the qualification of Customary Court of Appeal Judge to be appointed as Chief Judge. According to the Group, no law prohibits Customary Court of Appeal Judge from becoming Chief Judge

They said, “The Governor also claimed that Justice Agumagu was a judge of the Customary Court of Appeal and therefore not qualified to be the Chief judge of Rivers State. Interesting! The appointment letter of Justice Agumagu is clear on the fact that he was appointed as a judge of the Rivers State High Court, where he served for 18 years until his secondment to the Customary Court to organize it, being a new establishment. He never lost his seniority, which was second only to the then Chief Judge, Justice Ndu. Also, there is no law that says a judge of the Customary Court of Appeal cannot be the Chief Judge of a State, as the only qualification is 10 years post call as a lawyer.

“The way Wike and Patient Jonathan used the then CJN, Alina Murktar as head of NJC to create confusion is now hunting him. The attempt to revise reality won’t be helpful as Nigerians know the truth.

“The Governor should do all that he can to appoint his favorite candidate again by creating confusion in the NJC, after all, they are willing collaborators. But, he should not try to insult the intelligence of Nigerians.”

Recall that Governor Wike had said he would not succumb to sentiment over who becomes the next Chief Judge of the State as he has conveyed to the State House of Assembly the letter of recommendation from the National Judicial Commission (NJC).

Speaking when he received a delegation of Okpo Club of Nigeria on a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt, Governor Wike said the process of appointment of a substantive Chief Judge is based on constitutionality and not sentiment. The governor said NJC is constitutionally empowered to recommend who becomes a Chief Judge and stressed that it was mischievous for the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and some lawyers to politicise the appointment of judicial officers by the NJC.

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