River State Governor, Nyesome Wike, has sworn in as acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Daisy Okocha, and an acting President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Christiana Nwankwo.

The swearing-in of the judicial officers, Governor Wike’s first task, held in the Council Chamber of the Government House in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The appointments are coming nearly a year after courts in the state shut down following the controversy that engulfed the judiciary in the state, caused by the legal tussle between the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the former State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as to who should be appointed as the Chief Justice.

Governor Wike explained that the newly sworn-in acting President of the Customary Court of Appeal is a replacement the suspended President, Justice Peter Agumagu.

The governor took a swipe at the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for allowing the judiciary to be grounded without any fight.

•Adapted from a Channels TV report. Photo shows Governor Wike.