SAVING OUR RIVERS: Civil society protests Wike,Chief Judge Laminkara's impunity:

SAVING OUR RIVERS: Civil society protests Wike,Chief Judge Laminkara's impunity: • Chief Judge begins trial of APC chieftain without required police investigation • Wike,Assembly's refusal to swear in victorious APC Assembly members • Justice Enebeli over-rules Appeal Court • Absence of state budget • Irregular frequent borrowings •Insecurity,etc. Thousands of civil society members today took-to-the-street in protest of multiple acts of impunity going on in Rivers state.The protesters who blocked gates state judiciary and House of Assembly listed the following acts of impunity and justice: Corruption of state judiciary under Chief Judge Iyayi Laminkara: * Trial of citizens without investigation: The Chief Judge of the state,Justice Laminkara and some judicial officers are accused of commencing trial on the case of an APC chieftain,Ojukaye Flag-Amachree,a vocal critic of Chief Wike's government and other citizens on criminal trial without police investigation.The CJ had last week opened the trial of Mr.Amachree on two-count attempted murder&murder charge against the advice of the Police force.The Police had written the CJ informing her that the state command did not have any petition before it accusing the said Mr.Amachree of murder or attempted murder,as such,had no case-file to submit to the court as required by law but the CJ went ahead to commence trial against known procedures of criminal prosecution. * Justice Enebeli over-rules Appeal Court: The protesters accused a High Court Judge,Justice Enebeli of over-ruling Appeal court in the case of Hon.Victoria Nyeche,a victorious APC Assembly member who was ordered to be sworn-in by the Court of Appeal.Instead of respecting the judgment,Justice Enebeli issued an order over-ruling it,thereby creating an unusual legal precedence that has negatively affected the image of the judiciary. ON ASSEMBLY: The protesters raised serious concerns over the failure and/or refusal of the state Assembly to respect the judgment of the Appeal Court which ordered the immediate swearing-in of Hon.Victoria Nyeche and Hon.Andrew Miller of Opobo/Nkoro state constituency.For over 8-months running,the Rivers state House of Assembly has refused to swear-in any Assembly member from other political parties different from the PDP. The protesters also expressed deep worries with the way and manner the state Assembly approves loans to the state government.Recall that the Assembly had approved about #150Billion loan requests for the Wike administration in one year.Recall further that the government said its target is to borrow #500Billion before 2019. ON THE STATE GOVERNMENT: The protesters complained of Wike's refusal to tackle criminality and insecurity in the state.The state has recorded the highest number of killings,beheadings and displacement of communities in the country since Wike became Governor.Atrocities which Boko Haram has never thought of are becoming daily occurrences under Wike's watch. On budget,the protesters criticized Wike's decision to hide the state budget from the public against the provisions of the state procurement and fiscal laws.It is noted that Rivers state is the only state whose budgetary provisions are shrouded in top secret. THEIR DEMANDS: The protesters listed their demands as the followings: * Enforcement of the judgment of Appeal court ordering the immediate inauguration of Hon.Victoria Nyeche as Assembly member representing PH 2 Consti. * Immediate inauguration of Hon.Andrew Miller of Opobo/Nkoro state const. * Immediate probe/sanction of corrupt judicial officers starting with the state Chief Judge by the NJC. * Immediate halt of trial-without-investigation of known Wike opponents by the state judiciary,especially,the Chief Judge and Justice Enebeli. * That the state Assembly must not approve further loans for the state government. * That the 2015 budget of the state be made public in compliance with extant rules * Serious crackdown on criminals and insecurity,as well as arrest&prosecution of known murderers. - VOLUNTEER NEWS REPORTS.