Rivers State Attorney General, Prof Zacchaeus Adangor has reacted to criticisms trailing the recommendation of Justice Simeon C. Amadi, by the National Judicial Council to Governor Wike for appointment as substantive Chief Judge of the State.
The NJCs recommendation of Justice Amadi as substantive judge, had been criticised by a group known as the Concerned Lawyers in Rivers State.
The group, is of the opinion that the NJC, ought to have recommended Justice Joy Akpughunum to the Governor, being the most Senior judge on the High Court Bench of the state.
Justice Adangor in a statement yesterday, faulted the claim by the group, stating that neither the NJC nor Governors are obligated to recommend or appoint the most senior judge as substantive Chief Judge of a state.
He argued that it was wrong for the Concerned Lawyers to rely on what they seemed “Judicial tradition” to demand that the NJC should have recommended Justice Joy Akpughunum to the Governor of Rivers State as the next substantive Chief Judge.
Justice Adangor, explained that his understanding of the law is that a rule of “judicial tradition” if one really exists, is only relevant where there is no applicable rule of substantive law governing the particular issue in question.
