Wike: Lawyers back AGF on governor-elect’s oath of office

The AGF and Minister for Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), had in a statement on Tuesday directed the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State to perform the swearing in of Wike, since there is no substantive Chief Judge in Rivers State. He said this is in line with Section 185 (1) and (2) of the 1999 […]

The AGF and Minister for Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), had in a statement on Tuesday directed the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State to perform the swearing in of Wike, since there is no substantive Chief Judge in Rivers State. He said this is in line with Section 185 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution.
Speaking with Daily Trust yesterday, constitutional lawyer Mike Ozekhome (SAN) said the decision of the AGF saved the country from possible monumental constitutional crisis because without the oath, Wike would not function as governor, resulting in a vacuum in the governance of the state.
“The action of the Attorney General of the Federation is in tandem with Section 185 (4) of the 1999 Constitution. The attorney general could also have appointed the presiding Judge of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt or Owerri or Akwa Ibom; or any of them nearer to the place. He could even have appointed the most ranking judge in Rivers State because there cannot be any vacuum in governance; or inform the NJC to appoint a judge to go and perform that duty. So what he did was very perfect and I applaud him for that,” he said.