The Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has gone on a spending spree, donates 41 Range Rover Discovery SUVs to judges in the state judiciary as well as judges of Rivers State origin serving in the Federal Judicial Service.
Receiving the cars, the state Chief Judge, Justice Iyaye Lamikara thanked the governor for his strident efforts at developing the state judiciary while ensuring that the welfare of judicial officers are maintained.
Justice Lamikara said that Rivers State judiciary is the first in Nigeria to have an e-library and one of the pioneers to commence e-filing, e-assignment of cases and virtual hearing of cases. These laudable achievements, the judge argued, were all recorded under the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike.
While it is commendable that the welfare of judges is being looked into, it is however untenable to use that as an alibi to embark on financial profligacy. It is preposterously irresponsible to splash hundreds of millions of tax payers’ money on such luxury cars as Range Rover Discovery SUVs at a time the vast majority of Rivers State’s citizens are groaning in pains of poverty and deprivation. The ravaging covid-19 pandemic has caused the loss of people’s businesses and livelihoods, it is therefore not a time to embark on ostentatious spendings.