Rivers State Judiciary: The Situation So Far

A Chief Magistrate has become the second high-ranking official to resign from the Rivers State government following the declaration of a state of emergency. This follows the earlier resignation of George Nweke, the former Head of Service.

The Chief Magistrate, Ejike King George, attributed his resignation to discomfort with what he described as “quasi-military rule” now governing the state.

In a letter dated April 11, 2025, written from his office at the Rivers State High Court Complex on Nnamdi Azikiwe Road, Port Harcourt, and addressed to the Chief Judge of the Rivers State Judiciary, King George announced his voluntary retirement. The letter was sent via the Secretary of the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission and titled “Voluntary Retirement from Service.”

“This present letter is intended to convey my decision to voluntarily retire from my appointment as a Magistrate of the Judiciary of Rivers State,” he wrote.

“This difficult and regrettable decision is informed largely by my discomfort with the recent appointment of a quasi-military administration to run the affairs of a modern State like ours.”

He added: “My lord will agree with me that this type of governance system is not only alien but also runs antithetical to our hallowed profession as legal practitioners and adjudicators.”

Having served 16 years of his 22-year legal career as a Magistrate in Rivers State under several democratic governments, King George explained: “I find it difficult to work with the current setting, as doing so would amount to a tacit and naïve acquiescence.”
“Thanks, My lord, for the opportunity to serve,” he concluded.

His resignation follows that of George Nweke, whose sudden exit made headlines after a viral video surfaced. In the footage, Nweke accused suspended governor Siminalayi Fubara and his chief of staff, Edison Ehie, of being involved in the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The controversy has since escalated, leading to a N2 billion lawsuit filed in a state high court.

The For And Against Protest In Rivers State

Suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has strongly criticized the Nigeria Police for what he described as their excessive response to protesters opposing the state of emergency in Ahoada East. He labeled the actions “double standards” and a threat to democratic rights.

This development comes amid rising political unrest in Rivers State, following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency and the appointment of retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas as the sole administrator.
Just three days after a group of women protested to demand Fubara’s reinstatement and an end to the emergency rule, two separate women’s groups staged new demonstrations in different areas of the state.

The first group, dressed entirely in white and allegedly aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, maintained that the emergency rule is lawful.

The women began their march from Garrison Junction around 7:00 a.m. and arrived at Iseac Park in Port Harcourt City Local Council by 9:00 a.m.

During the protest, they chanted songs and carried placards with messages such as: ‘Emergency rule is constitutional,’ ‘Rivers women voted for you but you made us your slaves,’ ‘Investigate Fubara’s bloated contracts awards,’ ‘Say no to dictatorship,’ and ‘Rivers women need peace in our state.’

The march was led by former Commissioner for Social Welfare, Inime Aguma, a staunch Wike supporter who had previously resigned from the cabinet amid the intensifying crisis between Fubara and Wike.

The women dismissed claims that they were paid or hired to support the emergency rule, asserting that the regime has ushered in a period of relative peace in the state.

Meanwhile, another group of women from the Ekpeye region of Rivers also held a peaceful protest at Mbiama Junction on the East-West Road. This group opposed Fubara’s removal, calling it unconstitutional.

Dressed in black, these protesters also chanted songs, demanding Wike’s withdrawal from the state’s affairs. Their placards bore messages such as: ‘Ibas should leave us alone,’ ‘End to emergency rule in Rivers,’ and ‘Bring back our governor, bring back Sim.’

In a display of support for the emergency administration, Aguma commended the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retd.) as Sole Administrator, stating that his leadership has ushered in peace and good governance in Rivers State.

Ibas Demands N300m Refund From NBA

Ibas has asked the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to return the N300 million the Rivers State Government paid for the hosting rights of the 2025 Annual General Conference.

In a statement released in Port Harcourt through his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubo, Ibas said: “While we respect the NBA’s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association, despite its ‘principled position’, didn’t address the refund of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the hosting rights of the 2025 conference.

“If the NBA truly stands on principle, it should demonstrate the same integrity by promptly returning these funds rather than benefiting from a state it now publicly discredits.

“We find the reasons cited for this decision shift in venue, particularly the insinuation that the Sole Administrator’s actions have undermined democracy and the rule of law to be misleading, uncharitable, and unbecoming of an association that prides itself on upholding justice and fairness.

“The NBA’s statement overlooks the constitutional basis for the current administration in Rivers State,” he added.

The NBA responded to Ibas’ request in a statement from Mr. Emeka Obegolu, SAN, Chairman of its Conference Planning Committee.

He said: “We wish to clarify that the decision to host the 2025 AGC in Port Harcourt was taken in August 2024 and was not subject of any bidding process or payment of any hosting rights.

“The host city has no hosting right and there is no representation by the NBA that the conference must be held in a chosen city.

“Traditionally, because of the enormous cost involved in hosting the AGC, NBA Conference Planning Committee approaches organisations, agencies of government and state governments for support, and the support requested for is unconditional and not tied to hosting rights or any rights whatsoever.

“The money from Rivers State was a gift and was not tied to any purported hosting right for the NBA AGC.

“We are committed to delivering a world-class conference to members of the Bar and will not be drawn into any unnecessary controversy over this issue.”