Ejike George says he refused to work under a sole administrator, likening the situation to a “quasi-military administration.”
A former Chief Magistrate in Rivers State, Ejike George, has opened up about the real reasons behind his resignation from the judiciary, citing an inability to work under what he described as a “military-style administration.”
During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, George explained that his decision to step down stemmed from the recent appointment of a sole administrator in the state, a move he considers undemocratic and incompatible with judicial independence.
In a letter dated April 11, 2025, addressed to the Honourable Chief Judge of Rivers State via the Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission, George formally resigned, stating that the appointment of a sole administrator amounted to a “quasi-military administration” and signaled a dangerous shift in governance style.
“I am simply saying that I cannot take instructions from a military administrator. I cannot,” George said. “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 being our governor.”
He explained that as a magistrate, the court operates under summary jurisdiction and is not directly guided by the constitution, which makes directives from leadership critical to operations. Typically, magistrates receive guidance from the Chief Judge and, by extension, the state governor—who acts as the chief security officer.
George noted that in his 16 years of service, he had always worked under elected civilian governors and found the sudden transition to a sole administrator unusual and untenable.
“There’s this security meeting the governor holds monthly with the Chief Judge, commissioner of police, and others,” he said. “The resolutions from these meetings are sent to us at the judiciary to implement, especially regarding criminal matters. That’s how it works. But this? This is different.”
George also criticized the lack of training or orientation for judicial officers on how to operate under a military-style or sole administrator-led government.
“No training was given to us on how to take directives from a military administrator,” he said. “I don’t know how my colleagues will cope, but I can’t adapt. That’s why I’ve thrown in the towel.”
Responding to claims by the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission that he was due for voluntary retirement and not resignation, George pushed back, saying he never faced any disciplinary panel and challenged the commission to publish any evidence of such.
He further stressed that there is no crisis in the state to warrant the appointment of a sole administrator, calling the move “unnecessary” and indicative of a troubling power shift.
