Interesting Facts About Rivers State's 1st Female Chief Judge And the New Acting Chief Judge.

Swearing in Justice Iyayi Lamikanra as Acting Chief Judge today

Swearing in of Justice Daisy W. Okocha as Chief Judge on Jan. 4th, 2016.

- Hon. Justice Daisy Wotube Okocha goes down in history as the first female Chief Judge of Rivers State.

- She was sworn in as the Chief Judge of Rivers State on January 4, 2016.

- She retired today, January 15, 2016  after only 11
days as substantive Chief Judge of Rivers State.

- She was sworn in as Acting Chief Judge on June 1, 2015.

- Justice D.W Okocha was called to bar in 1979.

She was appointed a magistrate in 1981.

She was elevated to the High Court in 1991.

- Justice Okocha should have assumed office around August 2013 if not for the political crises in Rivers State under the erstwhile Governor Rotimi Ameachi.

Due to her well known hard stance for due process and integrity, Governor Ameachi reasoned that she would not be a good " team player " if the need arose. It was for this reason and probably for other unknown causes that the then Governor refused to honour the National Judicial Council recommendation that Justice Okocha be appointed the Chief Judge.

Governor Ameachi's disregard for the NJC recommendation plundered the state judiciary into crises that finally led to the closure of courts an entire year while the parties were engulfed in litigation.

On December 23, 2015, the Court of Appeal in its Judgement confirmed the NJC's recommendation of July 2013 which then paved way for her swearing in as substantive Chief Judge of Rivers State 11days to her retirement.

Upon her retirement on January 15, 2016, the State Government in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria immediately sworn in the most senior Jugde of the High Court as acting Chief Judge- Hon.Justice Iyayi- Lamikanra.

Interestingly, Hon.Justice Iyayi- Lamikanra is neither a native of Rivers State nor married to a native of Rivers State. She is presently married to a Yoruba Senior Advocate, Debo Lamikanra.
This is indeed a plus to the Nyesom Wike led government of Rivers State.

Hon. Justice Adama Iye Iyayi-Lamikanra was sworn in by Governor Wike today( Friday) at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Port Harcourt.

While swearing in Justice A. I. Iyayi -Lamikanra as the Acting Chief Judge of Rivers State, governor Nyesom Wike reiterated that in his government, women will continue to enjoy more than 35 percent of appointments, stressing that “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.”