No excuse for Corruption, says Wike as he presents 41 SUVs to judges
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has tasked serving judges in the state to desist from every form of corruption and indolence in job performance as it will no longer be tolerated.
Wike said this while officially presenting 41 new sports utility vehicles (SUV) to judges in the state High judges as incentives on Monday, August 3, in Port Harcourt.
The governor charged them to rededicate themselves to their duties and shun acts of corruption.
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Wike said, “There should be no more excuses for corruption and indolence in job performance among our judges with the level of incentives and entitlements we are providing.
“The point cannot be over-emphasised that the most important consideration of their calling is to ensure that justice gets to everyone that comes before you within the rule of law.”
Daily Times gathered that he gave the advice as a result of reports of the activities of some judges whom he accused of insubordination and dereliction of duty.
“Clearly, judges become insubordinate, complicit and derelict of duty whenever they come to pressure and intimidation in the course of their duties, or shy away from handling sensitive cases by inducive politicians or litigants as bases for returning the case files to the chief judge for reassignment and indulging in various dodgy acts of self-exaltation at the expense of doing justice,” he said.
“I do not think any judge has the power or pleasure to unilaterally return a case file to the chief judge for any reason, more so for every flimsy excuse as it is becoming the common practice these days among judges,’’ Wike said.
According to Channels news, Wike also charged the judges to ensure that the procedure and practice, and even the most politically charged dispute should be resolved in a transparent manner that serves justice and no other interest.
He frowned at some situations where judges recuse themselves from matters brought before them and return the case files to the heads of the court.
However, the governor assured judges in Rivers that the state government was working to improve their welfare and ensure they perform their duties without fear or worry.
