The Rivers State governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi has called on Lawyers in the state to always pay their taxes.
Speaking at a church service held at St. Cyprian Anglican Church, Hospital Road, Port Harcourt, to mark the 2011/2012 legal year celebration, governor Amaechi who recalled his achievements across the State, stressed that payment of taxes by the legal professionals and other residents in the state would go a long way to enhance development in Rivers State.
Governor Amaechi also pledged to partner with lawyers by funding the judiciary if fund is what determined the independence of the judiciary.
He assured that the executive would obey the law as well as implement all judgments coming from the judiciary.
The chief executive officer of the state urged lawyers to be courageous in the discharge of their duties even in the face of challenges to have a peaceful sleep later, having done the right thing.
At a special court session in the judicial complex, governor Amaechi promised to partner with the judiciary to improve its Information communication Technology (ICT) stressing that it would make them work effectively.
According to him, regular training of members of the judiciary would also add quality justice delivery and that his administration would support the judiciary to ensure that its staff are trained within and outside the country.
Earlier in his sermon at the church service, the Bishop of Evo Diocese Rt. Rev. Innocent Ordu, urged judicial officers to always discharge their duties with the fear of God and warned them to desist from any form of conduct that would tarnish their image and credibility in the legal system.
According to him, “God himself delight in justice because justice is more acceptable than sacrifice”.
The Chief Justice, Iche Ndu, in his remark, commended governor Amaechi for releasing fund to the judiciary, adding that governor Amaechi has played an important role in ensuring that the judiciary was efficient as well as remain independent in the state.
The chief judge assured that the judiciary would embark on massive overhauling on ICT especially through the electronic, satellite and recording system as soon as funds are received.
Justice Ndu stated that the condition in the Port Harcourt prison was not conducive, despite carrying out numerous jail deliveries, due to congestion and called for improvement in the status of the prisons.
At the special court session, Justice Ndu revealed that a total of 5,387 cases out of 16,149 were disposed by the judiciary in 2011.
According to him, the breakdown of figure proved that 9,407 cases were brought forward from 2010, 6,742 cases were filed in 2011, while a total of 10,306 cases were still pending both in high courts, customary court of Appeal and customary courts.
Also speaking the Rivers State commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Hon. Chima Gboms, said corruption has crept into the judiciary and urged lawyers in the state to rise up to the challenges and provide quality justice to move the judiciary and the state forward. ###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
