By: our reporter
The Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria, Dr Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, CFR, JSC represented by Justice Mary Odili, JSC on Thursday commissioned a newly built estate for senior jurists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The state governor, Nyesom Wike named the judges estate after Barr Emmanuel Aguma (SAN). The quarters which comprises of (20) four-bedroom duplexes was built on an owner-occupier basis.
Speaking at the event, Governor Wike said the estate was built in fulfillment of his 2015 promise to provide fitting accommodation for judges.
He said, “Recall that in my inaugural address in 2015, we promised to provide life-long accommodation for judges as a deliberate government policy to enhance their working conditions and wellbeing.
“The policy is implemented in either of two ways. Judges have a choice to receive a purpose-built house from the State Government or opt for cash payment to build or buy their houses by themselves.”
Governor Wike explained that the decision to “immortalize and honour the memory of our late former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, by naming this estate: Emmanuel Chinwe Aguma Judges Quarters is in fulfillment of my promise during his funeral service at the St. Paul’s Cathedral, Diobu, Port Harcourt on the 16th of September 2018.”
High-point of the event was the presentation of Certificates of Occupancy to the recipients of the houses at the Rivers State Judges Quarters by the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria, represented by Justice Odili.
Present at the event was the President of the Court of Appeal, Honourable Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem.