Nigeria: Concerns In Rivers Over Amaechi

THE pro-democracy community in Rivers State, one of the major oil and gas producers in Nigeria, is becoming uncomfortable with the snail speed the legal battle between the immediate past Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rotimi Amaechi, and Governor Celestine Omehia, is taking at Abuja, the country's capital.

At the moment, the court of Appeal, Abuja is coming under scrutiny in the pro-democracy circles because of the manner it has been handling the matter between Rotimi Amaechi and Celestine Omehia over who really was the authentic, legally recognized Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) candidate for Rivers State in the April 14 governorship elections.

To some of the pro-democracy activists and lawyers, the way the appellate court presided over by Justice Rabiu Danlamin Mohammed has handling the matter is so far unsatisfactory and leaves much to be desired.

Many see the Appeal Court Justices hearing the case as falling for the delay tactics of Omehia’s lawyers and foot-dragging on the matter. This has given rise to a lot of questions, several groups and persons asking, what is really going on in the Court of Appeal? Nothing further buttressed their fears than the latest ruling of the Appeal court, declining to hear the matter, saying that it lacked jurisdiction, after it had been ordered twice, by the Supreme Court to hear the case.

Justice delayed, they say, is justice denied. The Supreme Court must act now to ensure that justice is not only served but delivered expeditiously on the Amaechi/Omehia matter and redeemed the image of the judiciary, especially with the many questions been asked on the manner the Appeal court, Abuja has been handling the matter.

ENDS

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