
The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress says it has watched with amazement what it dubbed 'macabre dance' of the National Judicial Council (NJC) with regard to the appointment of Justice P.N.C Agumagu as the Chief Judge of Rivers State by the State Government.
According to the party, "going by the provisions of section 171 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and section 21 (d) part 1 of the third schedule of the 1999 Constitution, it is clear that the powers of the National Judicial Council (NJC) have to do only with recommending to both the President and State Governors on the appointment and disciplining of Justices and Judges. It was in line with this that the NJC recommended to President Goodluck Jonathan the suspension of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami. President Jonathan accepted the recommendation and suspended Justice Salami.
"After due investigation, Justice Salami was cleared of any wrongdoing. The NJC again recommended his reinstatement but President Jonathan did not accept the recommendation, hence Justice Salami was never reinstated".
APC asked those that recommend what it described as 'jungle justice' on Justice Agumagu to reverse it as a matter of urgency to avoid ridiculing this great body that is expected to be the embodiment of disciple, justice, equity and fair play, adding that NJC should not for any reason dabble into the murky waters of politics and give leverage to those desperate to remove Gov. Amaechi from office before the end of his tenure, using every funny means no matter how strange to the laws of the land.
The party admonished the NJC and any other interested party that Justice Agumagu was duly approved by a competent court of jurisdiction and duly screened and approved by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
"Due process was clearly followed in his appointment as the Chief Judge of Rivers State and any act by anybody to malign the impeccable character and achievements of this great Jurist and any attempt to rubbish him is not welcome by us and the people of Rivers State", the statement concluded.
NJC Erred In Suspending Rivers' Chief Judge, Says Rivers' APC.
No comments:
Post a Comment