AFRICA

Okere Kingdom Decries Halting of Rivers State Fund, Urges NJC Review of Chief Justice’s Conduct

Nnamdi Okere Kingdom, the convener of Lawyers in Defence of Democracy and Human Rights, has expressed grave concerns regarding a recent court ruling that halted the allocation of funds to Rivers State.

On Wednesday, a Federal High Court in Abuja, ordered the stoppage of the release of federal monthly allocations from the consolidated funds to the Rivers State government. The decision has sparked political debates and raised questions about its implications for the state’s governance and welfare.

In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday, Kingdom lamented the impact of the court ruling on the citizens of Rivers State, particularly vulnerable populations. He criticised what he described as a political bias favoring the Wike faction, suggesting that the judiciary should not allow political interests to undermine public welfare.

“The poor women in the rural areas that are attending antenatal in various health centres, should they all die because there is no fund to fund the health centres in the state or because there is a Wike who is a demigod in Rivers State and who the people should put his picture in the sanctuary and worship every Sunday? The issue of political solutions should be looked into and the chief justice of the federation should also look into this matter.”

Kingdom further called for a thorough examination of the judicial processes, pointing to the perceived preferential treatment of pro-Wike lawmakers, urging the National Judicial Council (NJC) to scrutinise the activities of the Chief Justice of the Federation and the decisions surrounding the Wike faction.

“Why are all the matters of the pro-wike lawmakers having these kinds of speedy hearing and every application they bring before the federal high court is granted and none is refused. The activities of the Chief Justice of the federation and his team of pro-wike lawmakers should be critically examined by the NJC.”

The legal battles in Rivers State have drawn attention to the broader political landscape, with Kingdom noting that previous attempts by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to mediate in the conflict were met with a lack of commitment from the Wike faction.

He emphasised that “if you had gone before the president to make an agreement and thereafter you reneged, it shows indiscipline,” highlighting the importance of political accountability.

Kingdom also heavily criticised the perception of former Governor Nyesom Wike as a dominant political figure, stating, “Wike is not omnipotent nor a demigod that should be worshipped by the people of Rivers State.”

He stressed that the matter is properly before the court, and with the Supreme Court as the highest legal authority, there should be no undue influence exerted by any political entity.

He expressed bewilderment at the trend of judicial decisions that seem to contradict established laws, particularly referencing a recent order that restricted police operations, which he described as a failure to safeguard the lives and properties of Rivers State citizens.

“All these issues point to the fact that things are falling apart.” He said

Chioma Kalu