Governor of Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says the provision of personal homes to judicial officers of Rivers’ extraction will serve as good motivation the enticements of all forms capable of compromising the rectitude of their judicial functions.
He stated this at the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt, after signing into law two bills passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly, and presented to him by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Martins Amaewhule.
The two bills are Rivers State Judicial Institute Law No. 8 of 2020, and the Rivers State Housing Scheme for Judicial Officers Law, No. 10 of 2021.
Governor Wike pointed out that the law will contribute to promoting judicial independence and reduce all forms of corruption among judicial officers.
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“The second bill which I’ve assented to, has to do with the housing scheme. This is where I think, when we talk about autonomy, this is the main autonomy the judiciary should be talking about.
“And in carrying out judicial functions, one thing that gives people hope is shelter. Part of the reasons why people are corrupt is that they don’t have the opportunity to own a house where they can put their heads at the end of the day, at retirement.
“So, for us as a government, we believe that one of the things that we do to stop corruption is to allow them to have their own house.
“I don’t want to see any Rivers judicial officer working in the Federal High Court, Industrial Court, Appeal Court or Supreme Court, indicted for corruption. I don’t want to see that happen to Rivers indigenes.
“Government must from the day of appointment, and on retirement, ensure they have their homes. If they say, they don’t want, then government can pay them the due financial equivalent in lieu. But it is our own responsibility to do so.”
