The speaker of the Rivers State House of Assoembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi Owaji Ibani said the members of the 8th Rivers State House of Assembly are ready to make laws that would add values to the people of the state.
Ikuinyi Ibani made the remark while declaring open a public hearing on Rivers State High Court Amendment No. 2 Bill 2015 organized by members of the Adhoc Committee of the Rivers State House of Assembly at the State House of Assembly Auditorium Assembly complex, Port Harcourt.
Rt. Hon. Ibani who noted that there is need for the legislators to enhance effective delivery of justice stated that the 8th Assembly is in a hurry to ensure effective legislature and make laws that would move the state forward.
Rt. Hon. Ibani who was represented by Rt. Hon. Marshal Stanley Owon, the deputy speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and a member representing Abua/Odual constituency noted that the contribution of the general public would go a long way in repealing the High Court Amendment law enacted by the previous 7th Assembly urged public to make contributions.
In his contribution, Barr. Chinwe Aguma the Rivers State Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General disclosed that he never agreed with the law which tend to distort the High Court law, amended by the 7th Rivers State House of Assembly allowing Chief Registrar of High Court to sign cases to judges who are his superiors in the judicial hierarchy.
According to him, the proper thing to do subsequently is to ensure that when an incumbent governor refuses to swear in the most senior judge of the state as required by law, the most senior judge must proceed to get that position.
Barr. Rufus Godwin the Solicitor General of Rivers State and permanent Secretary Rivers State Ministry of Justice recalled the sad era of last dispensation where the Rivers State judiciary was closed down.
According to him, during the amendment of the High Court bill, the 7th Assembly of the Rivers State House of Assembly did not seek their imput on the matter.
Barr. Godwin described the law as unconstitutional because the 7th Assembly elevated the chief Registrar of the High Court to assign cases to judges through the back door stressing that the law should be repelled.
Dr. Evans a legal practitioner who frowned at the appointment of the Chief Registrar of a High Court to assign cases to judges as amended by the 7th Assembly of the state House of Assembly noted that the Chief Registrar of a High Court does not have the right to assign cases to senior judges because he or she is not a judge and appealed for the repealing of the law.###
Emeka Ejiowhor
