Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has promised unwavering support to ensure the state’s judiciary functions as a truly independent and effective justice system.
The governor made this commitment yesterday while declaring open the 2025/2026 Legal Year at a special Court Session held at the State High Court Complex in Port Harcourt.
Fubara lauded the state’s judiciary as one of the best in Nigeria, featuring the brightest judicial minds who courageously interpret and apply the law with a high sense of justice.
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He urged lawyers, as ministers in the temple of justice, to always uphold the rule of law and advance the course of justice with honesty.
He stressed that the judicial oath demands that judges provide equal justice to all persons without “fear, favour, or affection,” requiring moral courage to resist external pressures.
He called on all courts to ensure their decisions promote substantial justice, democracy, and citizens’ fundamental rights.
The governor declared that the recent political crisis in the state is now over, with all parties reconciled.
He affirmed that he harbours no grudges, stating his administration is re-energised and focused on implementing people-centric policies and projects for the well-being of the people.
He reiterated his commitment to collaborate with the State House of Assembly and the Judiciary to “recover lost ground, sustain peace and accelerate development.”
Earlier, during a Thanksgiving service, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Amadi, raised a concern about the absence of a Committee on Prerogative of Mercy, which he noted significantly contributes to congestion in custodial centres.
He mentioned the non-reduction of sentences for 493 male and 15 female death-row prisoners, a matter beyond the Chief Judge’s power, and called for government intervention.
In her remarks, Cordelia Eke, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Port Harcourt Branch, highlighted how political and institutional turbulence had disrupted the previous legal year.
She noted that the absence of an Attorney General caused significant delays in justice delivery and financial losses, underscoring the need to fortify laws that protect the justice system.
Speaking for the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), Onueze Okocha, expressed concern over the Judiciary’s “battered image,” citing public loss of faith due to inconsistent judgments and prolonged delays.
He called on judges to renew their integrity and resist personal interests that could influence their professional conduct.
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The Apostolic Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt, Right Reverend Patrick Eluke, in his homily, cautioned against hypocrisy and unhealthy competition within the legal profession.
He urged them to uphold moral and spiritual integrity to ensure justice reflects honesty and fairness, protecting the vulnerable.
