Barring any last minute change, Justice Margret Ayemieye is set to be named acting Chief Judge of the Bayelsa State Judiciary as the incumbent Chief Judge; Justice Kate Abiri is set to retire.
Abiri is expected to retire on January 13 and as customary, the most senior judge in line is expected to be named acting Chief Judge pending when the National Judicial Council( NJC) and the State House of Assembly ratifies the process to make her Chief Judge.
Justice Abiri was appointed Chief Judge of Bayelsa State by former governor Timipre Sylva in 2008 after a protracted battle led by the Nigerian Bar Association, Yenagoa which demanded her to be appointed following the recommendation by the NJC
Already Justice Abiri has commenced her last round of activities as head of Bayelsa Judiciary with the jail delivery exercise at the Okaka Correctional Centre
Abiri, who was accompanied by senior judicial officials and members of the NBA Women Forum, freed 12 inmates from the correctional centre.
The Judiciary is expected to hold a valedictory thanksgiving service in her honour on Sunday January 8 at the Greater Evangelism World Crusade, Yenagoa.
She is also expected to be honoured with a public lecture on Thursday January 12 at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall, Government Hall.
A valedictory court session in her honour is slated Friday January 13 at the High Court complex while a book presentation: Footprints on the Bench, is expected to be held at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Hall.
In the past one year, Justice Ayemieye, being the most senior Judge after Abiri, has been representing the Chief Judge in several events.
Ayemieye, would be the third female Judge to head Bayelsa Judiciary after the brief stint of Justice Margret Akpomiemie (rtd) and the tenure of Justice Abiri.
Previous Chief Judges in the state were late Justice Koripamo David Ugbuku and late Justice Emmanuel Igoniwari.