The state judiciary said that George was compulsorily retired for misconduct and not due to political developments in the state.
The Rivers State Judiciary has dismissed the claims made by retired Chief Magistrate Ejike King George regarding the circumstances of his resignation from service.
The state judiciary said that George was compulsorily retired for misconduct and not due to political developments in the state.
It was reported on Monday that George resigned from service, citing his strong opposition to the state’s current political leadership.
George had said that he chose to leave the judiciary voluntarily, citing discomfort with what he described as “quasi-military administration” now governing Rivers State.
In a letter dated April 11, 2025, and addressed to the Honourable Chief Judge of Rivers State through the Secretary of the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission, George had described the governance style as incompatible with the values of the legal profession.
He characterised the new administration as “alien” and “antithetical” to democratic principles upheld by the judiciary.
George stated that he had spent 22 years in legal practice, dedicating 16 of those to the Rivers State Judiciary under several democratic governments.
He said remaining in office would be tantamount to “tacit and naïve acquiescence.”
But the Chief Registrar of the Rivers State High Court, David Ihua Maduenyi, on Tuesday at a press briefing in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, said that George was compulsorily retired with effect from February 10, 2025, after allegedly being found guilty of gross misconduct by a disciplinary panel.
“The former Chief Magistrate was compulsorily retired from service for disciplinary reasons,” Maduenyi said.
“The action followed complaints of prolonged absence from duty without official leave, spanning from August 25, 2023, to December 2024.”
Maduenyi also said that George appeared before a disciplinary panel constituted by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), where he was found culpable.
“The panel recommended either voluntary or compulsory retirement. The recommendation was reviewed and approved by the JSC, which opted for compulsory retirement,” he added.
Responding to George’s attempt to associate his removal with political instability in the state, the Chief Registrar described the retired magistrate’s narrative as misleading.
“His attempt to link his removal from office to the prevailing political situation in the state is not only a contrived falsehood but also a mischievous act aimed at deceiving the public and attracting undue sympathy and unmerited support,” Maduenyi stated.
This comes against the backdrop of deepening political turmoil in Rivers State, culminating in the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara by the State House of Assembly.
The action was followed by heightened tension and security deployments across major government institutions.
In response to the crisis, the Nigerian government imposed a state of emergency in the state, effectively handing over critical aspects of administration to military-style coordination.
