‘I Can’t Take Orders From A Sole Administrator,’ Ex-Rivers Magistrate Justifies Resignation From Judicial Service

A former Chief Magistrate in Rivers State, Ejike George, has publicly defended his recent resignation from the state’s judiciary, citing an inability to function under the directives of a sole administrator.

George made the statement on Thursday night during a live appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, and appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the state’s sole administrator.

“My reason for resignation is simply because I cannot adapt to the military style of adjudication that would be introduced by the reason of the sole administrator,” George stated. “I am simply saying that I cannot take instructions from a military administrator. I cannot.”

The former Magistrate expressed discontent with the federal government’s decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Tinubu, invoking Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, claimed the suspension was necessary to halt the escalating political crisis in the state.

However, George firmly disagreed. “There was no crisis in Rivers State to warrant the suspension of an elected governor and his deputy, and the imposition of a military-style rule. It is not fair to the people of Rivers State,” he argued.

Vice Admiral Ibas, who served as Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff between 2015 and 2021, hails from neighbouring Cross River State and was named sole administrator as part of federal efforts to restore order in Rivers State.

George, who served the Rivers State Judiciary for 16 years, maintained that judicial officers were not trained to function under military-style leadership. “Our courts are courts of summary jurisdiction. Our proceedings are not guided by the Constitution of this country. That being the case, it means that I would take directives from my employer who is the Chief Judge of Rivers State,” he said.

“We, in turn, take some level of directive from the governor; that would have been the elected governor who had acted as the chief security officer of the state.”

He continued, “In the entire 16 years that I served with the Rivers State Judiciary, I have taken instructions from civilian administrators. I do not know how I am going to adapt and now begin to take instructions from a military administrator. I find it very strange.”

George also challenged claims made by the Rivers State Judicial Commission that he retired voluntarily and not through resignation. “I never faced any panel for any misconduct,” he said. “Let them publish any report if there is one. I resigned on my own accord.”

He further explained that the judiciary had not offered any training on how to operate under military oversight. “Until that is done, I don’t know how even my colleagues would cope,” he said. “So, for me, unfortunately, I am not the type that would keep my mouth shut. So, I decided to throw in the towel and go home and look for something else to do.”