Former Chief Magistrate in Rivers State, Ejike George, has said his resignation from the judiciary was in protest against the military-style governance recently introduced in the state, following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, George said his decision to quit was based on principle, as he could not operate under a military-appointed administrator.
“I am simply saying that I cannot take instructions from a military administrator. I cannot,” George stated emphatically.
President Tinubu had on March 18, 2025, suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, appointing retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Sole Administrator to take charge of the state.
George described the decision as unjustified, insisting there was no constitutional crisis in the state to warrant such drastic action. “It is not fair to the people of Rivers State,” he said.
Explaining his position, George noted that magistrate courts, being courts of summary jurisdiction, are structurally bound to take directives from the Chief Judge, who in turn liaises with the state’s elected executive.
The introduction of a military administrator, he said, completely upends that democratic chain of command.
“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,” he explained.
“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 added.
George further revealed that the judiciary provided no guidance or training on how judicial officers should work under a military-led system. “Until that is done, I don’t know how even my colleagues would cope. So, for me, unfortunately, I am not the type that would keep my mouth shut. So, I decided to throw in the towel and go home and look for something else to do,” he said.
Reacting to claims by the Rivers State Judicial Commission that he was due for voluntary retirement, George dismissed the assertion and challenged the commission to produce any record of misconduct against him.
“I never faced any panel for any misconduct,” he said, maintaining that his resignation was voluntary and driven solely by a clash of principles.
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