Retired Rivers Chief Magistrate Ejike George Rejects Misconduct Allegations, Says Judicial Commission Demanded Resignation Letter Be Edited Before Acceptance
King George dismissed the allegations of misconduct as a misrepresentation of facts and suggested that political motives were behind his removal.
Aretired Chief Magistrate of the Rivers State Judiciary, Ejike King George, has publicly challenged the official report justifying his compulsory retirement from service.
King George dismissed the allegations of misconduct as a misrepresentation of facts and suggested that political motives were behind his removal.
The Rivers State Judiciary had announced George’s compulsory retirement on February 10, 2025, citing gross misconduct, including prolonged absence from duty without official leave from August 25, 2023, to December 2024.
A disciplinary panel constituted by the State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) reportedly found him culpable and recommended his removal.
However, in a statement obtained by SaharaReporters on Tuesday, the retired magistrate refuted the allegations, presenting documentary evidence to counter the claims.
He also revealed an unusual obstruction to his initial attempt to retire voluntarily, alleging that the Secretary of the State Judicial Service Commission refused to accept his retirement letter unless certain sections were removed.
“My attention has been drawn to a recent publication from the office of the Chief Registrar, alleging that I was compulsorily retired by a so-called panel for willfully staying away from work from August 25, 2023, to December 2024.
“He also claimed that I was merely seeking public support and sympathy. In response, I have chosen to provide documents as evidence, so the public can judge for themselves.
“Please note that I chose this medium (going public) to communicate because the Secretary of the State Judicial Service Commission refused to accept my retirement letter, insisting that I expunge certain texts as a condition,” the statement added.
The controversy comes amid heightened political tension in Rivers State, following the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara by the State House of Assembly and the subsequent declaration of a state of emergency by the federal government.
George had earlier linked his resignation to the political climate, describing the current administration as a “quasi-military” regime incompatible with democratic values.
In his April 11 resignation letter, he stated that remaining in office would amount to “tacit and naïve acquiescence” to an “alien and antithetical” governance style.
However, the Chief Registrar of the Rivers State High Court, David Ihua Maduenyi, dismissed George’s claims as an attempt to “deceive the public and attract undue sympathy.”
Maduenyi insisted that the magistrate’s removal was purely disciplinary and unrelated to politics.
