Sitting of Judges in Rivers State, a slap on the CJN- Chizy Enyi

The leadership of The Initiative for Transparent Strategy and Good leadership, has faulted the disregard of the directives issued by the Chief Judge of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council, to all states to close the courts as a preventive measure against the coronavirus.

The President General, Bar. Chizy Enyi in a letter made available to Africa Update, accused the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Hon. Justice Iyaye Lemankara, of carrying out the orders of the state Governor Nyesom Wike, at the risk of endangering the lives of millions of Rivers citizens.

Excerpts of the letter below:

The Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman National Judicial Council, Abuja.

Your Lordship Sir,

THE SITTING OF HON. JUSTICE CHIWENDU NWOGU, HON. JUSTICE ELSI THOMPSON, MAGISTRATES D.D. IHUA-MADUENYI ESQ AND G. E. NWEKE ESQ AS DIRECTED BY HON. JUSTICE IYAYE LEMANKARA, THE CHIEF JUDGE OF RIVERS STATE AGAINST THE DIRECTIVE OF THE HON. CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA AND THE CHAIRMAN OF NATIONAL JUDICIAL COUNCIL: A SLAP ON THE JUDICIARY AND AN ACT OF INSUBORDINATION OF THE HIGHEST ORDER

The Initiative for Transparent Strategy and Good Leadership is a non-governmental organisation, charged with the responsibilities of making sure that good governance and and rule of law is been enthrowned and promoted.

It is on record, that Your Lordship the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman National Judicial Council issued a circular on the 23rd day of March, 2020 on the subject matter: RE. PREVENTIVE MEASURES ON THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS (COVID19) AND THE PROTECTION OF JUSTICES, JUDGES AND STAFF OF COURTS, wherein Your Lordship directed heads of Courts in the federation to close all courts with effect from 24th March, 2020 for a period of two weeks Initial.

It is not out of place to say that even the Bible recognised that only the living that will praise the Lord, meaning that the two weeks Your Lordship temporary closed all courts is to protect the lives of not only Your learned Brothers, but all judicial workers, lawyers, litigants and friends of the courts from been infected of the deadly pandemic called Coronavirus.

It is disheartening to note that the above directive from the exalted office of Your Lordship, the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman National Judicial Council was not implemented and obeyed by the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Hon. Justice Iyaye Lemankara and the Judges and Magistrates mentioned above as they sat as follows: 1. Hon. Justice Chiwendu Nwogu sat on the 24th day of March, 2020. 2. Hon. Justice Elti Thompson sat on the 26th day of March, 2020. 3. Magistrate D. D Ihua-Maduenyi sat on 7th and 14th day of April, 2020. 4. Magistrate G. E. Nweke sat on 2nd day of April, 2020.

We were reliably informed, that the Chief Judge of Rivers State boosted that she will not fully implement the directive of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman National Judicial Council to temporarily close the courts in Rivers State unless such directive is from her employer, been the Rivers State Government and on the contrary, should there be a query from Your Lordship, she will list the cases treated as matters of urgent, essential and time bound as exempted Your Lordship.

We are aware that the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended vested in Your Lordship the powers to regulate and issue directive to all the courts in Nigeria, HENCE Your Lordship issued the directive dated 23rd day of March, 2020 which was obeyed throughout the federation except Rivers State. And we are tempted to ask whether Rivers State is part of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and if yes, are you really the Head of the Judiciary in Nigeria and why will your directive not be obeyed? We are not comfortable with the ways directives issued by Your Lordship is not been obeyed in Rivers State. If this act of insubordination is not critically and properly investigated and disciplinary actions taken, the public perception may be that the Judicial Arm of Government in Nigeria have two heads unlike the Executive and the Legislature.

Your Lordship should also critically look at the cause list of those days that the courts sat, whether all the cases handled those days qualifies as those exempted by Your Lordship. In view of the above, we urge Your Lordship to critically look in the merits of the petition and act accordingly.

Chizy Enyi Esq. President General. 08032705358.