Fubara warns judges over conflicting judgments

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has cautioned judges and lawyers against being compromised and delivering conflicting court rulings.

His statement followed some conflicting judgments that almost hindered the conduct of the local government election held in the state.

“Some of you say you are legal luminaries. You know the truth, but you will go on air just to pacify your paymasters to turn the law upside down.

“We all know the law when it comes to issues that have to do with the administration of governance in the state; it is within the jurisdiction of the state high court.

“It doesn’t matter whether you joined INEC or the police. It is a state matter. I am not a lawyer, but I know that if say you are doing the right thing? God will judge you.” he said.

The governor spoke at the opening of the 2024/2025 Legal Year and re-dedication service at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul’s, Anglican Communion, Diobu, at Garrison Junction in Port Harcourt, on Thursday.

The governor said, unarguably, the judiciary is a sacred temple of justice and should always hold up such assurances for everybody that approaches it, and not the other way around.

He said because court judgments have far-reaching implications, care needed to be taken in making judicial pronouncements.

“Let me say it here so that you will understand: Judges, you are the god that we are seeing. Your position is to stand and defend us. Your position is to look at whoever and tell the person the truth.

“Because if you don’t do it here, you will have a big question to answer. The preacher said it. Every evil done in the course of administering justice, you will pay for it dearly.”

Fubara applauded the Rivers State judiciary, particularly, the High Court divisions for their sundry support that had contributed to keeping his administration going despite calculated antagonisms.

He alluded to the fact that some judicial officers in the state had been either threatened, physically assaulted or slammed with frivolous petitions raised against them to coerce them to submit.

He urged them to remain resolute in their commitment to stand on the side of truth, and never compromise justice.

“I want to thank the Rivers State judiciary, more especially, the High Court of Rivers State, for your support, for keeping this administration afloat up until this hour.

“We know quite well that a good number of you have been threatened by way of phone calls and even physical assaults. We are also aware that some of you have been threatened professionally through petitions that are fake and frivolous.

“But one thing that you need to understand is that you must be persecuted when you are doing the right thing. And those of you who are doing the right thing that is being fought from all sides, be courageous. Very soon, this whole thing will be over. Nothing lasts forever.”

He assured the judges that the leadership of the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, would record more successes under his administration.

He harped on the importance of having strong institutions to entrench democracy and good governance, so as to engender a healthy and prosperous society.

The governor said when institutions became deliberately weakened, society would suffer eventually.

In his sermon, the Bishop of the Diocese of Niger Delta North, Rt Rev Wisdom Budu Ihunwo, preaching on the topic, “Called To Uphold Justice”, said Nigeria was collapsing, owing partly to the conflicting judgments always emanating from courts of coordinate jurisdiction.

Bishop Ihunwo noted that such deliberate incoherence from the judiciary skewed leadership and jeopardised the unity of the country.

He warned that those who engaged in such merchandise would be punished by God, no matter how long it took.