The discontent amongst civil society organisations and lawyers over the imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu took another twist on Thursday as a Chief Magistrate, Ejike George, resigned from the state judiciary in protest, describing the appointment of a Sole Administrator to run the state as a dangerous deviation from democratic norms.
George, who had put in16 years in the Rivers State Judiciary, likened the development to a “quasi-military administration.”
In his letter of resignation dated April 11, 2025, and addressed to the Honourable Chief Judge of Rivers State via the Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission, George cited concerns over what he called an “alien” and “antithetical” governance style.
According to him, “This 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.
“Milord 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.”
George posited that having spent 16 of his 22 years in legal practice as a Magistrate in Rivers State under various democratic governments, he could not continue in good conscience under the current administration, stressing that “To do so would amount to a tacit and naive acquiescence”. He thanked the CJ “for the opportunity to serve”.
George’s resignation came on the heels of the Nigerian Bar Association’s decision to move its 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu, citing disregard for the rule of law and the imposition of a Sole Administrator in a democratic setting.