Nigeria, March 6 -- Rivers State Judiciary has described as "false and malicious" the media reports that the state's Chief Judge, Simeon Amadi, is set to embark on a one-year leave.

"The Rivers State Judiciary categorically and unequivocally refute this malicious, misleading, false, and baseless allegation against the person and the office of the Chief Judge, Mr Amadi," the Chief Registrar, David Ihua-Maduenyi, said in a statement on Wednesday.

The allegation came amidst the ongoing face-off between the Supreme Court-restored pro-Wike lawmakers and Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.

The chief registrar said the state's chief judge did not at any time announce nor intend to announce embarking on any recess or extended recess le...