Urges judges to be fearless, berates lawyers who service paymasters  
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said that what Nigeria needs to grow and sustain democracy and good governance is strong institutions and not strong individuals, who want to control every government institution. This is as he urged judges to be fearless nor yield to threats and intimidations by anyone.

Fubara said this at the opening of the 2024/2025 New Legal Year at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul’s Diobu (Garrison), Port Harcourt on Thursday.

In his words, “institutional strength is the only thing that will bring development to this nation. If I were a businessman coming to invest in Nigeria, why would I do so when I see that institutions are weak and individuals are stronger than the institutions?”

He urged members of the bench to remain courageous in upholding the truth, despite threats of physical assaults and frivolous petitions.

“We are aware that a good number of you have been threatened through phone calls and even physical assaults. We also know that some of you have faced professional threats through false and frivolous petitions.

“One thing you must understand is that when you are doing the right thing, you will face persecution. To those of you who are standing strong and being attacked from all sides, be courageous—this will soon be over. Nothing lasts forever!”

He praised the Rivers State Judiciary, especially the High Court of the state, for their support in keeping his administration afloat.

The governor took a swipe at some legal luminaries, who smeared their conscience to canvass what is professionally said to be an aberration, doing so to please their paymasters.

He added that within the temple of justice, judges are seen to represent God, who must not be afraid to look at those who come to equity and dispense justice rightly without fear or favour.

In his sermon, the Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta North, Rt. Rev. Wisdom Budu Ihunwo, preaching on the topic, ‘Called To Uphold Justice’, said Nigeria is collapsing, owing partly to the conflicting judgments always emanating from courts of coordinate jurisdiction, which have deepened the festering crisis.