By Sunday Ejike Benjamin
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice P. N. C. Agumagu from Office as a Judicial Officer with immediate effect, for his failure to abide by his oath of office to uphold the Constitution and Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
A statement by the Ag Director, Information of the NJC, Mr. Soji Oye, in Abuja said the Council considered the purported appointment, confirmation and Swearing-in of Justice Agumagu as the substantive Chief Judge of Rivers State on March 18, 2014 and in the course of deliberations on the matter at the Council’s 10th Emergency Meeting on March 26, 2014, under the Chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar held 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 NJC, subject to the confirmation of the appointment by the House of Assembly of the state.
“That the NJC did not at any time make any recommendation to the Governor of Rivers State that Justice Agumagu, President, Customary Court of Appeal be appointed the substantive Chief Judge of Rivers State.
“The Council, in exercise of its Powers under Paragraph 21 (d) of Part 1 of the third schedule of the 1999 constitution resolved that, it does not and will not recognise Justice Agumagu as the Chief Judge of Rivers state.
“That the general public and all concerned in the matter, particularly the Governor, the Rivers State House of Assembly and the Judiciary in Rivers State, be notified and informed that the National Judicial Council will not deal with Justice P.N.C. Agumagu as the Chief Judge of Rivers State.
“That a query be issued to Agumagu to explain in writing within four 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”, the statement said.
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