A Chief Magistrate in Rivers State, Ejike King George, has voluntarily resigned his position from the Rivers State Judiciary, citing discomfort with the current political leadership in the state.
His resignation was formally communicated in a letter addressed to the Chief Judge of Rivers State, through the Secretary of the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission.
In the letter, George described the decision as both “difficult and regrettable,” explaining that he could no longer serve under what he termed a “quasi-military administration” overseeing the affairs of Rivers State.
He noted that the prevailing style of governance was not only unfamiliar but also fundamentally at odds with the ideals, values, and principles of the legal profession.
According to George, such a governance structure undermines the ethos upheld by legal practitioners and adjudicators. He stressed that remaining in his role under the current system would amount to “tacit and naive acquiescence.”
The magistrate, who has spent 16 of his 22 years in legal practice as a magistrate under successive democratic governments in the state, said the recent political developments made it difficult for him to continue discharging his duties in good conscience.
He concluded by expressing gratitude to the Chief Judge for the privilege and opportunity to serve within the state’s judiciary over the years.
The statement read:
“This letter is intended to convey my decision to voluntarily retire my appointment as Magistrate of the Judiciary of Rivers State.
“This difficult and regrettable decision is informed largely by my discomfort with the recent appointment of a quasi-military administration to run the affairs of a modern State like ours.
“My Lord will agree with me that this type of governance system is not only alien but also runs antithetical to our hallowed profession as legal practitioners and adjudicators.
“Having put in a whooping 16 (sixteen) out of my 22 (twenty two) years of legal practice into this Judiciary as Magistrate under successive democratic administrations, I find it difficult to work with the current setting, as doing so would amount to a tacit and naïve acquiescence.
“Thanks My Lord, for the opportunity to serve,” chief magistrate said.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
