Wike Swearing-in: Divergent views trail AGF’s directive

Reactions have started trailing the directive from the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammad Adoke that the Chief Judge of Bayelsa state Judiciary confers the oath of office on the Governor-elect in Rivers state, Nyesom Wike on May 29.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, OCJ Okocha told newsmen in Port Harcourt that the directive by the AGF was misinterpreted by the media.

OCJ Okocha, SAN, said the directive actually emanated from the National Judicial Council, adding that only the NJC was saddled with the responsibility of giving such orders within the Judiciary.

He said, “The press did not carry it the way they ought to carry it. The directive actually must have come from the NJC which is the body established by the constitution that can take such decision and can deal with policy on administrative matters within the Judiciary throughout Nigeria.

“The Attorney-General is the Chief Law officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and also the Chief Legal adviser to Government.

“There is no problem whatsoever and I believe that things have been well-articulated in the Press Release issued by the AGF and Minister of Justice.

“Come 29th of May, 2015 the governor-elect will be duly sworn-in by the grace of God.”

Meanwhile, another senior Lawyer based in Port Harcourt, Kennedy Amos said the dircetive of the Attorney-General was illegal.

Amos said it will be an aberration for a chief Judge in Bayelsa state to administer an oath of office on a governor-elect in Rivers state.

He argued that every state is autonomous to itself.

According to Amos, “The Attorney-General of the Federation, much as he might mean well for us, he is the Chief Law officer of the federation acting primarily on behalf of the Federal Government.

“Each of the states that make up the federating unit is auonomus of one another. In my mind, it will be an aberration for a Chief Judge of Bayelsa state to be gotten to come to administer the oath of office on a governor-elect in Rivers state.

“In other words, this is a territorial matter. Can the chief Judge of Bayelsa state over-reach himself, over-Reach his territorial boundaries? He is the Chief Judge of a state of coordinate jurisdiction which is not Rivers state. “