Rivers State Governor, Nyesome Wike has appealed to the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to match their statements with concrete actions in tackling attacks on the nation’s judiciary.
Wike gave the charge during the book presentation in honour of Justice Mary Peter-Odili as part of activities marking her retirement from the Supreme Court of Nigeria and her 70th Birthday celebration in Port Harcourt.
In a statement issued by Mr Kelvin Ebiri, his Special Assistant on Media, Wike expressed regrets at the NBA’s lacklustre approach to social change, saying it was more of a disservice to the nation and exposed it to contempt.
He further disagreed with some speakers on Thursday’s valedictory court session organised in honour of Justice Odili. many of them had blamed politicians for the challenges that the judiciary suffered.
The governor alleged that the Federal Government had in 2016, unleashed orchestrated midnight raids on judges’ homes, including the Justices of the Supreme Court, in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Gombe, Kano, Enugu and Sokoto states.He noted that when judges were lacking in courage and integrity, they easily gave up to improper pressure, influence and control, and the entire judiciary suffered.
Wike assured that if elected the President of Nigeria in 2023, he would work with the National Assembly to prioritise the welfare of judicial officers, including the provision of official cars and life-long accommodation “as being done in Rivers”.
