George also berated the Rivers State Judicial Commission for alleging he left his position because he was due for retirement.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Immediate past Chief Magistrate of Rivers State, Ejike George, has explained why he decided to resign from the state’s Judiciary.
He justified the decision on Thursday while featuring on Channels Television programme, ‘Politics Today’.
According to him, he left his position because he was not trained to take directives from a “military administrator”.
President Bola Tinubu on March 18, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu; and members of the state’s House of Assembly.
He also announced the appointment of former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (rtd) as the state’s Sole Administrator.
He went on to hinge his decision on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, saying he can’t continue to watch the political situation in Rivers escalate without taking any action.
Reacting to the development during his interview, George condemned the president’s decision, saying the crisis in Rivers State does not warrant the suspension of Governor Fubara and others.
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The former Magistrate also argued that the introduction of military-style rule is unacceptable.
He said, “It is not fair to the people of Rivers State. My reason for resignation is simply because I cannot adapt to the military style of adjudication that would be introduced by the reason of the sole administrator.
“As a magistrate, our courts are courts of summary jurisdiction. Our proceedings are not guided by the constitution of this country. That being the case, it means that I would take directives from my employer who is the Chief Judge of Rivers State.
“We, in turn, take some level of directive from the governor; that would have been the elected governor who had acted as the chief security officer of the state.
“I am simply saying that I cannot take instructions from a military administrator. I cannot. In the entire 16 years that I served with the Rivers State Judiciary, I have taken instructions from civilian administrators. I do not know how I am going to adapt and now begin to take instructions from a military administrator. I find it very strange,” he stated.
He went on to fault the Rivers State Judicial Commission, which claimed that, on the contrary, he was due for voluntary retirement and did not resign.
