A Chief Magistrate in the Rivers State Judiciary, Ejike George, has resigned from his position.
He cited discontent with the recent political developments in the state, particularly the appointment of a Sole Administrator to oversee governance as his reason.
In his resignation letter dated April 11, 2025, and addressed to the Chief Judge of Rivers State through the Secretary of the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission, George described the decision as voluntary. The letter was titled “Voluntary Retirement From Service.”
The magistrate, who has served 16 years on the bench and practiced law for 22 years, condemned the appointment of a Sole Administrator, labeling it a form of “quasi-military administration” unfit for a democratic society.
“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,” George wrote.
“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 further expressed that remaining in his position would amount to a “tacit and naive acquiescence” to a system he fundamentally disagrees with.
Reflecting on his service, he noted: “Having put in a whopping 16 (sixteen) out of my 22 (twenty-two) years of legal practice into this Judiciary as Magistrate under successive democratic administrations, I find it difficult to work with the current setting.”
He concluded his letter by thanking the Chief Judge for the opportunity to serve.