May 29 hand over: Constitutional crisis looms in Rivers over non-availability of Chief Judge

Constitutional crisis may be looming in Rivers State if the issue of who is to be the Acting Chief Judge in the state is not resolved.

Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, OCJ Okocha expressed the fear while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt.

OCJ Okocha, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN said the non-availability of a substantive Chief Judge in the state Judiciary may be a snag as the state look forward to May, 29.

He wonders who will perform the traditional handover ceremony to swear-in the Governor-elect, Nyesom Wike into office.

According to him, “It is usually the Chief Judge of Rivers State. But now we don’t have a Chief Judge or an acting Chief Judge. We also do not have the President of the Customary Court of Appeal.

“If things remain as they are now and the Governor of Rivers State leaves things as they are now and refuse to appoint the person that is supposed to take over the mantle of leadership as an Acting Chief Judge or a substantive Chief Judge of Rivers state, then there may be a problem.

“Right now that office is vacant so is the office of the President of the Customary court of Appeal and we are facing this constitutional crisis.

“But I hope and believe that reason will prevail and the Governor will deem fit to do what is needfull,” OCJ Okocha said.

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