‘I can’t take orders from sole administrator’ — ex-Rivers chief magistrate speaks on resignation

Ejike George, former chief magistrate in Rivers state, has doubled down on why he resigned his appointment.

George conveyed his resignation in a letter dated April 14, citing concerns over the appointment of Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice admiral, to oversee the state’s affairs.

He also described the development as “troubling” and likened it to a “quasi-military administration”.

Afterwards, the Rivers Judicial Service Commission (JSC) countered his claims and said the chief magistrate was compulsorily retired from service.

The JSC said George was absent from work without leave, from August 25, 2023 to December 2024, and was offered voluntary retirement within a specified timeframe.

Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme on Thursday, George said he was not trained to take directives from a military administrator.

“My reason for resignation is simply because I cannot adapt to the military style of adjudication that would be introduced by the reason of the sole administrator,” he said.

“As a magistrate, our courts are courts of summary jurisdiction. 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; that would have been the elected governor who had acted as the chief security officer of the state.

“I am simply saying that I cannot take instructions from a military administrator. I cannot.

“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.

“The judiciary did not take us to any previous training on how to work with military administrators.

“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.”

George also disagreed with the JSC statement on the subject.

“I never faced any panel for any misconduct,” he added.

He also challenged the commission to publish any report of misconduct against him.

The affairs of the oil-rich state have been controlled by the sole administrator since President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency over a protracted political crisis and vandalisation of oil facilities.

Tinubu also suspended Siminalayi Fubara, the state governor; his deputy, Ngozi Odu; and all members of the Rivers assembly for an initial period of six months.