EMERGENCY RULE: ‘WE WILL REMEDY ANY HARDSHIP SUFFERED BY NBA’ - FUBARA

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has assured all that suffered any hardship as a result of the Emergency Rule in the state that such would be redressed by his administration.

Fubara was speaking during the Opening Ceremony for the 2025/2026 Legal Year in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

His words: “I want to commend the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association both at national and state level. Please, anyone who has suffered any pain or form of oppression in the course of standing for justice to protect us, we will find a way to correct it.”

The governor added that the government would correct such hardships “in a way and manner that it does not cause any kind of friction. I assure you of that.”

CITY LAWYER recalls that NBA Port Harcourt Branch Cordelia Eke was issued an orchestrated query by the Ministry of Justice due to her strident opposition to the Emergency Rule.

Turning to the judiciary, Fubara assured that he would support digitalization of the judiciary, even as he decried what he termed “forum shopping and bare-faced indulgence” as well as “infamous conduct by some senior lawyers.” He added that there were also “questionable decisions” by some of the courts.

He however commended the Rivers State Chief Judge for performing his job “courageously,” urging the courts to place premium on rule of law and substantial justice.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of NBA Port Harcourt Branch observed that the Emergency Rule was one of the most challenging times in the State’s recent history, adding that the months could be termed “the dark months of 2025.”

She noted some “disruptions” that were witnessed in the justice system, adding that this disrupted democratic governance and tested the resilience of the justice system.

The branch chairman stated that the NBA “did not stand aloof” during the Emergency Rule, adding that the decision to relocate the NBA Annual Conference to Enugu “was far more than a logistical adjustment. It was a bold and symbolic declaration of the Bar’s unwavering commitment to the defence of democracy and the Rule of Law.”

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), Chief Onueze Okocha (SAN), expressed concern over the battered image of the Judiciary, lamenting that many Nigerians had lost faith in the courts due to inconsistent judgments and prolonged case delays.

He urged judges to resist personal interests that could influence their professional conduct, calling for renewed integrity and faster dispensation of justice.

In his address, the Chief Judge Simeon Amadi highlighted the absence of a Committee on Prerogative of Mercy, noting that it has worsened congestion in correctional centres, with 493 male and 15 female inmates currently on death row.

He called for the establishment of the committee to ease the burden. He thanked the governor for his support so far and requested further assistance to enhance judicial efficiency.