A Chief Magistrate in Rivers State, Ejike King George, has voluntarily vacated his position as a Magistrate in the Rivers State Judiciary.
Chief Magistrate George’s resignation was conveyed in a letter addressed to the Chief Judge of Rivers State, through the Secretary of the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission.
In the letter, George described his decision as “difficult and regrettable”, attributing it to his discomfort with the recent appointment of a “quasi-military administration” to oversee the affairs of Rivers State.
He noted that the current system of governance is not only strange but fundamentally antithetical to the ideals and values of the legal profession.
According to him, such a structure runs counter to the principles upheld by legal practitioners and adjudicators.
George further stated that having dedicated 16 out of his 22 years of legal practice to serving as a magistrate under successive democratic administrations, he finds it challenging to operate within the current political context.
Doing so, he said, would amount to “tacit and naive acquiescence”.
He expressed appreciation to the Chief Judge for the opportunity to serve in the state’s judiciary.
The statement read, “This letter is intended to convey my decision to voluntarily retire my appointment as Magistrate of the Judiciary of Rivers State.
“This difficult and regrettable decision is informed largely by my discomfort with the recent appointment of a quasi-military administration to run the affairs of a modern State like ours.
“My Lord will agree with me that this type of governance system is not only alien but also runs antithetical to our hallowed profession as legal practitioners and adjudicators.
“Having put in a whooping 16 (sixteen) out of my 22 (twenty two) years of legal practice into this Judiciary as Magistrate under successive democratic administrations, I find it difficult to work with the current setting, as doing so would amount to a tacit and naïve acquiescence.
“Thanks My Lord, for the opportunity to serve.”
