The Attorney General of Rivers State is an appointed official in the executive branch of the
Government of Rivers State
The Government of Rivers State consists of elected representatives and appointed officials responsible for the government of Rivers State, Nigeria. Rivers State has a population of about 5 million people, and is one of the 36 states that make up ...
. The Attorney General is appointed by the
Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
, with the consent of the
Rivers State House of Assembly
Rivers State House of Assembly is the legislative branch of the Government of Rivers State inaugurated in 1979. It is a unicameral body with 32 members elected into 32 state constituencies. The current Speaker
Speaker may refer to:
Society and ...
. The Attorney General serves as the Commissioner of Justice and chief law officer of the state. Some of the duties assigned to this official include supervising the law, administering the state's legal system and advising the government on legal matters.
Office of the Attorney General
The post of the Attorney General is described in Chapter VI, section 195 of the Constitution as follows:
(1)There shall be an Attorney-General for each State who shall be the Chief Law Officer of the State and Commissioner for Justice of the Government of that State.
(2) A person shall not be qualified to hold or perform the functions of the office of the Attorney-General of a State unless he is qualified to practise as a legal practitioner in Nigeria and has been so qualified for not less than ten years.
Role and powers
Section 211 of the Constitution provides that "the attorney general of a state shall have power":
#To institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court of law in Nigeria other than a court-martial in respect of any offence created by or under any law of the House of Assembly;
#To take over and continue any such criminal proceedings that may have been instituted by any other authority or person; and
#To discontinue at any stage before judgement is delivered any such criminal proceedings instituted or undertaken by him or any other authority or person.
Attorneys General of Rivers State
* Frank Owhor
*
*
Aleruchi Cookey-Gam
*
Henry Ajumogobia
*
Okey Wali
Okey Wali, SAN (born October 29, 1958) is a Nigerian lawyer and the 26th president of the Nigerian Bar Association.
Early life
Wali was born on October 29, 1958 at Obio-Akpor local government area in the metropolis of Port Harcourt, a souther ...
*Ken Chikere Esq
*
Worgu Boms
*
Emmanuel C. AgumaProfessor Zaccheus Adangor (SAN)
See also
References
{{Government of Rivers State
Executive Council of Rivers State