Get Guardian on GoogleA Chief Magistrate, Ejike King George, has resigned from the Rivers State Judiciary, citing discomfort with the recent appointment of a “quasi-military administration” to oversee the state’s affairs.
In his resignation letter dated April 11, 2025, addressed to the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, George expressed discontent over the direction of the state’s governance, describing it as “alien” and “antithetical” to the values of the legal profession.
“This present is intended to convey my decision to voluntarily retire my appointment as Magistrate of the Judiciary of Rivers State,” George said.
“This difficult and regrettable decision is informed largely by my discomfort with the recent appointment of a quasi-military administration to run the affairs of a modern State like ours.”
George, who dedicated 16 out of his 22 years in legal practice to the Rivers State Judiciary as a Magistrate under various democratic administrations, stated that continuing under the present structure would amount to “tacit and naïve acquiescence”.
He added: “Milord will agree with me that this type of governance system is not only alien but also runs antithetical to our hallowed profession as legal practitioners and adjudicators.
“Having put in a whooping 16(sixteen) out of my 22 years of legal practice into this Judiciary as Magistrate under successive democratic administrations, I find it difficult to work with the current setting, as doing so would amount to a tacit and naīve acquiescence.”
He, however, thanked the Chief Judge of Rivers State for the opportunity to serve, marking the end of his tenure.
