(L) JUSTICE P. N. C. AGUMAGU IN HANDSHAKE WITH ROTIMI AMAECHI (R)
SAN FRANCISCO, March 27, (THEWILL) – The National Judicial Council under the Chairmanship of Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Aloma Mariam Muktar, has rejected the appointment, confirmation and Swearing-in of Hon. Justice P. N. C. Agumagu as the substantive Chief Judge of Rivers State.
The NJC also suspended Agumagu as a judicial officer with immediate effect.
Agamugu was sworn in on March 18, 2014 by the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi despite warnings from the NJC and the Nigerian Bar Association that he is not the most senior judge in Rivers State following the retirement of the former Chief Judge.
A statement by the NJC obtained by THEWILL, after its 10th Emergency Meeting, which was held on the 26th March, 2014, said “it does not and will not recognize” Agumagu as Chief Judge of Rivers.
The statement reads in part:
“In the course of deliberations on the matter, Council noted as follows;
- That it is expressly provided in Section 271 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) that:-
- The Appointment of a person to the Office of the Chief Judge of a State shall be made by the Governor of the State on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, subject to the confirmation of the appointment by the House of Assembly of the State;
- That the National Judicial Council did not at any time make any recommendation to the Governor of Rivers State that Hon. Justice P. N. C. Agumagu, President, Customary Court of Appeal be appointed the substantive Chief Judge of Rivers State. Council therefore resolved as follows:-
- i. That the National Judicial Council does not and will not recognise Hon. Justice P.N.C. Agumagu as the Chief Judge of Rivers State.
- ii. That the general public and all concerned in the Matter, particularly the Governor of Rivers State, the Rivers State House of Assembly, the Judiciary in Rivers State, be notified and informed that the National Judicial Council will not deal with Hon. Justice P.N.C. Agumagu as the Chief Judge of Rivers State;
- iii. That a query be issued to Hon. Justice P. N. C. Agumagu to explain in writing within four (4) days, why he should not be removed from office as a Judicial Officer for his failure to abide by his Oath of Office to uphold the Constitution and Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
In the meantime, Council in exercise of its Powers under Paragraph 21 (d) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution has suspended Hon. Justice P. N. C. Agumagu from Office as a Judicial Officer with immediate effect.
Soji Oye, Esq., Ag. Director, Information”
