The reign of ‘learned’ women in leadership of Rivers Judiciary two CJs, a PCCA

It is certainly the era of ‘learned’ women to reign in leadership of the Rivers State Judiciary, an arm of government that laid comatose for about two years (2013 – 2015), due to a strange political craving by the immediate past governor of the state, Chibuike Amaechi. This propelled his curious meddlesomeness on the judiciary. For yet unexplained reasons, the former governor refused to allow Daisy Okocha to be sworn-in as the state Chief Judge in 2013; which was on the strong recommendations of the National Judicial Council (NJC). This led to total lockdown of the state judiciary, as workers, JUSUN went on strike.  The courts at all levels in the state were under lock and key for two years. And things didn’t abate, until Amaechi left office.

The climax of the judiciary impasse displayed on 29 May 2015, when there was no Chief Judge to swear-in the new governor, Nyesom Wike. The then Attorney-General of the federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, had to assign the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Kate Abiri, to swear-in the then governor-elect in Rivers.

When Nyesom Wike came to office as governor in May 2015, he quickly restored normalcy to the state judiciary, opening the lid for Daisy Okocha to emerge as the first female Chief Judge of the state since its creation in 1967.

Daisy’s reign though brief (lasted for only 12 days), but she exuded calmness, gusto and wisdom. Rivers Judiciary under her was peaceful and noble. She ended up gloriously. She left the state Judiciary better than she met it. She masterfully prepared the ground for her successor – Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra, the second female Chief Judge in two months –  January and February 2016. Iyayi-Lamikanra safely moved from acting capacity to a substantive state Chief Judge.

Few weeks after Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra was sworn-in as substantive Chief Judge, another ‘learned’ woman, Christy Gabriel-Nwankwo was approved, and was last week sworn-in as the President of the State Customary Court of Appeal (PSCCA).

Many have described Justice Nwankwo as a “competent Judiciary officer,” and that her appointment was based on merit.

For Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, Rivers Deputy Governor, the whole aspect is a phenomenal play-out of ‘women soaring higher in the state,’ after it had witnessed a sordid instability during the previous administration.

The deputy governor said late last week in Port Harcourt that: “the swearing-in of a substantive President of the Customary Court of Appeal few weeks after the 2nd female State Chief Judge, Justice A.I. Iyayi-Lamikanra was sworn-in, demonstrates the political will and sagacity of Governor Wike, to recognize professional excellence, and enhance the capacity of the judiciary to discharge its duties.”

She said all this is also a fulfillment of Governor Wike’s promise to give women opportunity to achieve their potentials under his administration; which has undeniably earned the Governor an award by the council of African Bar Association, which conferred on him a Life Membership.

Some observers have described Wike, a lawyer by training, as having made immense contributions to the stability and progress of the Rivers Judiciary.

They said Wike’s clear distancing of the Executive arm from the Judiciary, and allowing the second arm of government to exercise its independence, has provided the much-needed fillip for the advancement of the state Judiciary.