RIVERS STATE JUDICIARY TO BECOME AUTONOMOUS, ANNOUNCES GOV NYESOM WIKE

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the state judiciary will have financial autonomy so that it can work independently without being muscled by the executive, reports have stated.Speaking on Monday while swearing-in the state Acting Chief Judge, Justice Daisy Okocha and the Acting President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Rivers State, the governor stated that he will never starve the judiciary of funds as a tool for arm twisting it.The governor noted that the independence of the Judiciary was necessary for the smooth running of government in the state. He, however, expressed his disappointment with the attitude of the Bench during the crisis in the state, saying that they were divided when they were supposed to be united to fight the destruction of the judiciary.Governor Wike also condemned the lackadaisical attitude of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, for failing to defend the legal profession in the face of attacks from a desperate administration seeking self preservation. “As a lawyer, I am highly disappointed by the action of the NBA. Something that you know is wrong, but everyone kept quiet.