Rivers: I wasn’t trained to take orders from military administrator – Ex-Magistrate
That was the powerful declaration of Chief Magistrate Ejike King George, who appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today, citing his inability to function under what he described as a “quasi-military style of adjudication” imposed by the Sole Administrator currently presiding over the affairs of Rivers State.
The Nigeria Lawyer recalls that on April 15, 2025, George publicly announced his resignation from the Rivers State Judiciary. Having served 16 years as a judicial officer, he stated unequivocally that he could not function under the system introduced by the Sole Administrator, appointed following the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025.
On Channels Television’s Politics Today; George not only outlined his reasons for stepping down but also challenged the legitimacy and necessity of the emergency rule in Rivers State. He criticized the federal intervention as undemocratic and questioned whether there was any genuine crisis to warrant such drastic action. He further rejected claims by the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) that he had been compulsorily retired for absenteeism, calling the accusation a cover-up to protect the administrator’s position.
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“My reason for resigning from the Rivers State Judiciary is simply because I cannot adapt to the military style of adjudication that will be introduced by reason of the Sole Administrator being our governor today—whatever he’s called,” George said. “As magistrates, our courts are courts of summary jurisdiction. Our proceedings are not guided by the Constitution of this country. We take directives from the Chief Judge, who is supposed to take his from the elected governor. Now, with a Sole Administrator in charge, I cannot subject myself to that system. I find it very strange.”
He further explained that neither he nor his colleagues had been trained to operate under a military-style administrative structure and emphasized that it would be unethical and unprofessional for him to preside over cases under such ambiguous and unconstitutional directives.
“In my 16 years of service in the judiciary, I have always worked under democratically elected governors. I have not been trained to take orders from military administrators. I cannot begin now. It is better I bow out with honor than remain silent and be part of what history may judge harshly.”
George clarified that his resignation was not an act of rebellion against the President, but a personal decision to safeguard his integrity and preserve public confidence in the judiciary. He challenged the narrative advanced by the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission, which claimed that he had been compulsorily retired on February 10, 2025, for absenteeism.
“That is a lie. I only heard that from the news. I was never formally notified of any disciplinary proceedings. There was no panel. I was not indicted. How can you retire someone behind their back? You cannot shave a man’s head in his absence. I have a resignation letter dated April 11, 2025, which I submitted to the Chief Judge through the JSC. I voluntarily retired, and I challenge them to publish any panel report that says otherwise.”
In detailing his administrative grievances, George described how his duly approved leave was allegedly manipulated and weaponized against him. According to him, he was granted leave from July 25 to September 5, 2023, but was wrongfully penalized starting from August 25.
“The Chief Registrar began penalizing me from August 25, even though I was supposed to resume work officially on September 5. The letter that approved my leave was deliberately delayed and issued to me on August 4 with retroactive effect from July 25. This is highly irregular and contrary to judicial ethics. How can my sitting in court be valid under such conditions? I would be operating ‘off record,’ and any judgment I pass would be subject to legal contest.”
He also questioned the rationale behind the state of emergency in Rivers, asserting that there was no breakdown of law and order to justify such extreme measures.
“If there was truly a crisis in Rivers State, I, as a magistrate, would know. I go to court daily, and all I see are routine criminal cases. There was no justification for the appointment of a Sole Administrator. We had an elected governor. I, like millions of Rivers people, went out in the sun to vote. Then suddenly, the person is removed and replaced by a military-style administrator? That is not justice. That is not democracy.”
George lamented the broader implications of the current political situation in Rivers State, pointing out that the judiciary was no longer functioning effectively, the legislature was absent, and the executive arm was under the control of an unelected appointee. He noted that Rivers State had already begun to suffer from the democratic vacuum.
“Our judiciary is on standby. The administrator is circumventing the judiciary. I do not know how many meetings he has had with the Chief Judge. The legislature is nowhere. The executive is not functioning in a civilian capacity. Just two days ago, PDP governors met. Rivers State had no representation. There was a Commonwealth event in London to support states impacted by tariffs. Lagos and Ogun were represented. Rivers was not. There are regular meetings between the President and state governors. Who is representing us there? This is not acceptable.”
The crisis in Rivers State stems from a prolonged political feud between Governor Siminilayi Fubara and the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, widely believed to be loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike. The crisis escalated following renewed impeachment efforts against Fubara and violent attacks on key petroleum infrastructure, leading to President Tinubu’s declaration of emergency powers. However, critics argue that the federal intervention has worsened governance in the state rather than restored stability.
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