Legal Year: Fubara Calls for Peace, Devt in Rivers

.CJ:36,712 cases pending in courts

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara has urged Rivers people to promote peace and collectively ensure the achievement of developments in the state.

This  is just as  the State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi has disclosed that a total of 36,712 cases are pending in various courts across the Judiciary Divisions in the state.

Governor Fubara, who spoke yesterday, at the opening of 2023/2024 legal year rededication church service held at St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church, in Port Harcourt, said Rivers people should put behind them the discomfort created by the political tension experienced days ago and join efforts with his administration in its determined effort at ensuring continuous peace and development in the State.

He said it was important for Rivers people to also embrace  peace so that the planned development for the State can be achieved.

“We have a mission to give you development. We also know that the devil will always come in, one way or the other, but the important thing is for us to identify it and push the devil out of our road so that we can continue.

“So, I want to thank you for your support and also say that we need peace. Everybody should just relax, and realise that we need peace for us to progress in the State, which is only possible in the atmosphere of tranquility.”

The governor pointed out that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike remains his principal regardless of whatsoever that has happened in the last few days, and stated that he never had recruited anybody to malign any person.

He commended Rivers people for their support and pray that they continue to give their unalloyed support to his government to succeed.

Meanwhile, during a special court session to mark the beginning of the 2023/2024 legal year of the State Judiciary held at the State High Court complex in Port Harcourt, Justice Amadi said 36,712 cases are pending in various courts within the Judiciary Divisions in the State.

Justice Amadi further disclosed that 36,899 cases were brought from the past legal year, while 17,784 cases were cases filed and out of which 17,874 cases have been disposed within the period under review.

According to him, a total sum of N645, 404, 817,27 were revenue generated from all the courts across the jurisdictions.

The Chief Judge, while giving the breakdown of the cases indicates that the cases brought forward from the from the High Court last year stand at 11,074 cases, 5,041, cases filed, 5,356 while 10,759 are still pending as at 30th of October, 2023.

Justice Amadi averred that the magistrate courts cases brought forward stand at 14,943,cases filed ,9,264, disposed 9,232 while 14,975 as at the period under review.

As at the State customary Court of Appeal, 88 cases were brought forward, 91 filed,112 disposed ,while 57 cases still pending. Also, 4,275 cases brought forward,1,266 cases,819 disposed while 4,722 cases.

The State Chief judge how ever noted that he received a total of 50 petitions from lawyers and litigants seeking  the transfer of their cases already assigned to magistrates and judges ,stressing that those frivolous petitions hampers the smooth dispensation of Justice.

While expressing gratitude to  Fubara for his support to the Judiciary, he expressed optimism that he would addressed some of the challenges already enumerated, including the employment of 300 staff for the Judiciary to address the manpower deficiency currently affecting the Judiciary.

Highlight of the programme was the donation of N50million for the launch  of a book titled: “History of Rivers State Judiciary, A Compendium of Personalities on the Bench.”