ECOWAS Community Court opens in Rivers

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has declared that the closure of the courts in the state for about a year constituted the darkest days in the history of the state.

Speaking at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday when he received a delegation from the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) Community Court, Governor Wike said that the situation in Rivers State was worsened by the fact that civil society organisations and human rights groups kept quiet for inexplicable reasons.

He noted that the closure of the courts in the state led to untold hardship for majority of the people, as they were denied access to justice.

Governor Wike pledged that that his administration will enhance the course of justice and the independence of the judiciary.

The governor assured the leadership of the ECOWAS Community Court of the cooperation and partnership of Rivers State.

Earlier, Vice President of the ECOWAS Community Court, Justice Chijioke Woke informed Governor Wike that his team was in the state to sensitise the people on the existence of the court.

He said that the court remains open to citizens who have issues with member countries on human rights.