PHOTOS: Governor Wike Swears In New Acting Chief Judge,

Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike today, January 15, kept his pledge to abide by the order of seniority and rule of law in appointment of the acting Chief Judge of the state.
He swore in Iyayi-Lamikanra as the acting Chief Judge of Rivers state today.
Iyayi-Lamikanra is primarily an indigene of Etsako West local government area of Edo state while her late husband hailed from Rivers state and her present husband, from Yoruba. Governor Wike insisted that the rule of law and respect for the laid down succession be followed in the appointment.

This is the first time such an appointment is happening in the country without due consideration of ethnicity. History was made of as the first female Chief Justice, Daisy Okocha was also succeeded by another female, Iyayi-Lamikanra.Speaking during the swearing-in, Governor Wike reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to continue to accord women their rightful positions in government, no matter the circumstances.The Governor said that women will continue to enjoy more than 35 percent of appointments in his administration; noting that women occupy about 70 percent in different positions.

Justice A. I. Iyayi Laminkanra (right) take Oath of office as the acting Chief Judge while Governor Wike watches

He said: “Nobody should talk about twenty five percent or thirty percent, the women appointed since my administration came into power has covered up to 70 percent.”
While congratulating the newly sworn in acting Chief Judge on her new office, Wike charged her to consolidate on the legacies bequeathed of her predecessor.
”We thank God that the Judiciary is back, let the Acting Chief Judge continue from where her predecessor stopped. Your predecessor has done very well, I am very proud to say this. Do your best and at the end of the day people will commend you“, the governor said.
Governor Wike further advised Iyayi-Lamikanra to dispense justice to the people without fear or favour and to always carry her colleagues along through constant communication.
In her response, Iyayi-Lamikanra, expressed thanks to the governor for finding her worthy of appointment, promising to dispense Justice at all times and stick to independence of judiciary.