Ejike King George, the chief magistrate of Rivers State, has voluntarily resigned from the Rivers State judiciary.
His resignation was formally circulated through a letter from the Secretary of the Rivers National Judicial Services Committee to the Chief Justice of Rivers State.
In the letter, Judge George described his decision as “difficult and regrettable” on the grounds that “paramilitary administration” was recently appointed to oversee the affairs of the state.
He said the current governance system is unfamiliar with the ideals and values of the legal profession, and fundamentally this structure contradicts the principles maintained by legal practitioners and judges.
George, who dedicated 16 of his 22 years of legal practice to the magistrate judges in successive democratic governments, said that continuing under the current political structure would constitute a “default and childish default.”
He expressed his gratitude to the Chief Justice for the opportunity to serve in the state’s judiciary.
“This letter is intended to convey my decision to voluntarily retire me as a District Judge of the Judiciary of Rivers State,” the letter reads.
“This difficult and regrettable decision is largely due to the discomfort of my recent appointment of a paramilitary government to manage the affairs of a modern country like ours.
“My Lord will agree with me that this system of governance is not only foreign, but also contrary to our sacred profession as legal practitioners and judges.
“After my 22 years of legal practice, including 16 years of legal practice in this judiciary, I found it difficult to cooperate with the current environment, as doing so would constitute tacit understanding and naive tacit acquiescence.
“Thank you, my Lord, for providing opportunities for service.”
