A former Chief Magistrate in Rivers State, Ejike George, has clarified the reasons for his resignation from the Rivers State Judiciary.

President Bola Tinubu announced the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (rtd.) on March 18, 2025, as the Sole Administrator of the state after declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State.

Tinubu also suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, stating that he could no longer sit by and watch the political situation in Rivers escalate without taking action.

In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday, April 17, 20225, George faulted the President Tinubu’s decision, saying that no tension in Rivers State warranted the suspension of Fubara and others, as well as the introduction of military-style rule.

Speaking on his resignation, George said he was not trained to take directives from a military administrator and would find it difficult to adapt to the situation.

He said, “It is not fair to the people of Rivers State. I am simply saying that I cannot take instructions from a military administrator. I cannot.

 “My reason for resignation is simply because I cannot adapt to the military style of adjudication that would be introduced by the reason of the sole administrator.

“As a magistrate, our courts are courts of summary jurisdiction. Our proceedings are not guided by the constitution of this country. That being the case, it means that I would take directives from my employer who is the Chief Judge of Rivers State.

“We, in turn, take some level of directive from the governor; that would have been the elected governor who had acted as the chief security officer of the state.

“I am simply saying that I cannot take instructions from a military administrator. I cannot. In the entire 16 years that I served with the Rivers State Judiciary, I have taken instructions from civilian administrators. I do not know how I am going to adapt and now begin to take instructions from a military administrator. I find it very strange.

“The judiciary did not take us to any previous training on how to work with military administrators. Until that is done, I don’t know how even my colleagues would cope. So, for me, unfortunately, I am not the type that would keep my mouth shut. So, I decided to throw in the towel and go home and look for something else to do.”