FG Directs Bayelsa CJ To Swear In Wike As Rivers State Gov

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohmamed
Adoke, SAN, has directed the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice
Kate Abiri, to swear in Rivers State Governor-elect, Nyesom Wike, on
May 29.

In a statement issued by his office and personally signed by him,
Adoke said the request became necessary because of the existing vacuum
in the Office of the Chief Judge of Rivers State, as well as the
Office of President of the Customary Court of Appeal in the state.

He explained that because of the vacuum, compliance with requirements
of section 185 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution under which Wike
should be sworn in has been made impossible.

Adoke noted that the directive to the Bayelsa Chief Judge to swear in
Wike in accordance with Section 185 (2) of the constitution was to
avert a likely constitutional crisis in the state

Adoke said: "Section 185 (2) of the constitution states that 'the Oath
of Allegiance and the Oath of Office shall be administered by the
Chief Judge of the state or Grand Khadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal
of the state, if any, or President of the Customary Court of Appeal of
the state, if any, or the person for the time being respectively
appointed to exercise the functions of any of those offices in any
state.

"The general public, particularly the government and people of Rivers
State, are hereby invited to take note of this development and
appreciate the fact that the invitation extended to the Chief Judge of
Bayelsa State to administer the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office
on the Governor-elect of Rivers State on May 29, 2015 is in accordance
with the Constitution and should therefore be respected by all and
sundry.
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