The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, has reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to maintaining a cordial working relationship with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
He gave the assurance in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, while receiving the newly appointed Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC, Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Hassan Saidu, who paid him a courtesy visit.
Welcoming the EFCC zonal Director, the Chief Judge recalled that he had always maintained a close professional relationship with the Commission, having served among the second set of judges designated to hear EFCC cases before assuming his current position.
“The relationship between the Rivers State Judiciary and EFCC has always been cordial, and during my tenure, it will continue. “We will always do our best to maintain this relationship. One of the ways to enhance it is exactly what you have done today, coming here”, he said.
The Chief Judge highlighted a critical challenge affecting the prosecution of EFCC cases in the state, explaining that the Commission’s staff are overburdened as they handle cases in both states at the High Court and Federal High Court levels, despite the limited manpower.
The Chief Judge suggested appointing additional judges to handle EFCC cases in order to fast-track the trial processes.
Justice Amadi prayed for a successful tenure of the Ag. Zonal Director and urged continued cooperation between the EFCC and the Judiciary in the collective fight against corruption
Speaking earlier, Saidu said his mission was to formally announce his assumption of office and to seek continued collaboration with the Judiciary in the fight against corruption.
“The essence of my coming here is to pay a courtesy visit and also to thank you for the wonderful job you are doing. We have no one in our career as important as the judiciary. Without the Judiciary, all our work will be to no avail,” he said.
He further expressed appreciation for the cordial relationship between the EFCC and the Rivers State Judiciary, adding that the support and cooperation of the courts had been vital to the Commission’s success. “We thank you, sir, and we wish that such collaboration will continue to increase more and more as we steady our steps towards sanitising the country.”, he said.
