“Stay Away From The Judiciary,” NBA Warns Rivers House of Assembly

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Nigerian Bar  Association,  NBA, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, warned against any attempt by parties to drag the Judiciary into the festering political crisis in Rivers State.

The NBA’s cautionary note is coming on the heels of last week’s resolution of the Martin Amaewfule-led pro-Wike House of Assembly, inviting the Department of State Services, DSS, to investigate the State’s Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi over alleged age falsification.

But not a few are seeing the move as a clear case of intimidation and blackmail designed to force the Chief Judge into playing along with the lawmakers in their desperate bid to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

A stubborn Chief Judge is sure to truncate any impeachment plot against the Governor through the instrumentality of a  Judicial probe panel

So far, this magazine  gathered that the Chief Judge has rebuffed the legislators’ entreaties to join in the impeachment plot.

Speaking on behalf of the eight local branches that make up the NBA Rivers State,Tamunosiki Roberts, the Chairman of Okirika branch pointedly described the Assembly’s resolution directing the DSS to investigate the Chief Judge over alleged age falsification as a subtle attempt to drag the Judiciary into the whole crisis.

While calling for the protection of the independence of the Judicial arm of Government, Roberts  warned that the attempt to co-opt the Judiciary into the political crisis amounts to a dangerous intrusion which has the potential to destabilize the State.

“We are not unaware of the existing political impasse between the Legislature and the Executive arms of Government of Rivers State.

“However, we must caution that the Judiciary should not be drawn into the ongoing imbroglio for no just cause.

“We reiterate that the independence of the Judiciary is crucial to the sustenance of peace and stability in the State as contending parties ultimately resort to the Judiciary for the resolution of disputes as has recently been witnessed at the Supreme Court.

“There is the need to deescalate tensions as the stability of Rivers state is crucial to the economy of the state and the country”, the NBA noted .

The umbrella body of legal practitioners further  warned that undermining the State Judiciary could lead to a replay of the ugly experience of 2014/2015 which led to the closure of Courts for almost a year.

“We cannot afford to experience a similar occurrence in the present times we find ourselves in the State and, especially, for the interest of the people of Rivers State to have their ongoing matters in Court without interruptions.

“The independence of the Judiciary is crucial to the sustenance of peace and stability in the State. Any  attempt to intimidate or blackmail Judicial officers could lead to chaos which we cannot afford”,  the NBA noted.