The National Judicial Council (NJC) on Tuesday directed the most senior judges in the Rivers High Court and Customary Court of Appeal to oversee the assigning of cases to judges.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Soji Oye, Acting Director of Information, NJC’s office, in Abuja.
The statement stated that the two senior judges would also perform other related administrative duties.
It said the NJC took the decision at its 67th meeting held on May 27 during which it deliberated on the non-appointment of a substantive or acting Chief Judge for the state.
The statement noted with concern the attendant consequences of this development on administration of justice.
It stated that NJC took the decision to correct the impression created on NJC’s decision on the appointment of the Rivers chief judge.
“Suffice it to say that the law abhors a vacuum, therefore, where there is a vacuum, the law must fill it,” it stated.
It would be recalled that NJC had on March 27 suspended Justice Peter Agumagu, as the Chief Judge of Rivers who was sworn-in by Gov. Rotimi Amaechi on March 18.
Agumagu, until his appointment as Chief Judge, which NJC said breached Section 271 of the 1999 Constitution, was a former President, Rivers Customary Court of Appeal.
Meanwhile, Agumagu has challenged his suspension and the suit is before an Abuja Federal High Court.
