Wike denies undue attention to judiciary, as Fayemi flags off court complex

Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, yesterday, performed the flag-off of the new Magistrate Court Complex in Port Harcourt.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on the occasion, explained that no arm or sector of government in the state has been treated poorly in terms of allocation of funds and distribution of infrastructure.

Responding to an allusion made by one of the speakers at event, who quoted a source to the effect that much attention had been paid to the judiciary, Wike said that person must be a mischief-maker.

Wike, in a statement by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri, said so much money had been spent on the health sector, which could not be compared to what has been spent in the judiciary.

He noted that the complex would be the last project his administration would be executing for the judiciary before his tenure ends, saying it would be completed within the next eight months.

Wike stated that when the new magistrate court complex will be completed, it will be fitted with all modern facilities and will help decongest the State High Court.

Performing the flag-off, Fayemi commended Wike for the transformational work, not just in the judiciary alone, but also in every sector in the state.

Fayemi observed that what is happening to the magistracy in Rivers State and the ongoing construction of the campus of Nigerian Law School in Port Harcourt are also worthy of commendation.

According to him, though he is not a lawyer, he is educated enough to know the importance of this arm of government, particularly the importance of the magistracy to the administration of justice in the country.

“From the statistics I’ve seen, 70 per cent of matters relating to criminal justice administration are handled at the magistracy. And that contributes immensely to addressing our long-standing problem of awaiting trial detainees in our prisons.

He said: “So, if we provide a conducive environment for our magistrates to function, it goes without saying they would deliver their responsibilities a lot more swiftly, and also cover a lot more grounds to address that challenge.”

Governor Fayemi said issues raised about the judiciary by Governor Wike are serious and said the federating states in the country aspire to have a truly independent judiciary.

“What we look forward to as states is that time that we would also have state courts that are not just autonomous but that are wholly driven from the state, not ones driven from the national judicial council, that is the vision of state and that is what we look forward to.”

The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, said the construction of the magistrate courts complex has come at an auspicious time most desired.

According to him, it will decongest the State High Court complex, where the magistrate court is currently being housed.

The Rivers State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, said the stability, peace and order of any society depends largely on the administration of justice.