Some of you, you say you are Legal Luminaries. You know the truth, but you will go on air just to pacify your pay masters to turn the law upside down. God will judge you.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has lamented the roles being played by some senior Lawyers which negatively affect the dispensation of justice in the country, and so present Nigeria in very bad light. The Governor said the legal Luminaries would know the truth but deliberately, just to please their pay masters, turn truth upside down.
Governor Fubara spoke at the 2024/2025 Legal Year and Re-dedication Service. He said Nigeria is a Country where individuals are stronger than institutions. This, he said is one of the reasons why investors do not come to Nigeria.
Said Fubara: “What we are praying for in this country is institutional strength and not individual strength. Institutional strength is the only thing that will bring development in this country.
“If I am a businessman, and I am coming into Nigeria to invest, why will I invest when what I am seeing today is that institutions are weak and individuals are stronger than institutions.”
Fubara urged Judges to remain impartial and fearless in their sacred duty of dispensing justice.
He told Judges: “Let me say it here so that you will understand. Judges, you are the God that we are seeing. Your position is to stand and defend us. Your position is to look at whoever and tell the person the truth.
“Because if you don’t do it here, you will have a big question to answer. The Preacher said it. Every evil done in the course of administrating justice, you will pay for it dearly.”
The Governor reserved the most stinging rebuke for some Senior Lawyers. “Some of you, you say you are legal luminaries. You know the truth, but you will go on air just to pacify your pay masters to turn the law upside down.
“We all know the law when it comes to issues that have to do with the administration of governance in the State. It is within the jurisdiction of the State High Court.
“It doesn’t matter whether you joined INEC or Police. It is a State matter! I am not a lawyer, but I know that one. And you stand and say you are doing the right thing? God will judge you”, the Governor said.
Fubara, however, had words of praises and consolation for the Rivers State Judiciary. He said: I want to thank the Rivers State Judiciary, more especially, the High Court of Rivers State, for your support, for keeping this administration afloat up until this hour.
“We know quite well that a good number of you have been threatened by way of phone calls and even physical assaults. We are also aware that some of you have been threatened professionally through petitions that are fake and frivolous.
“But one thing that you need to understand is that you must be persecuted when you are doing the right thing. And those of you who are doing the right thing that are being fought from all sides, be courageous. Very soon, this whole thing will be over. Nothing lasts forever.
“If I am a businessman, and I am coming into Nigeria to invest, why will I invest when what I am seeing today is that institutions are weak and individuals are stronger than institutions?”
Speaking specifically on the state of things in Rivers State, the Governor said:
“This State belongs to all of us. It is not about Fubara today. If this institution is destroyed, when another person comes in tomorrow, it is the same thing that will happen.
“We need to stand and defend it, and you are the right people to do it. I am here today to assure you that even if I have my last breath, I will defend the cause of justice in this State.”
Rivers State has been in crisis since the political fallout between Governor Siminalayi and his predecessor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
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