Nigeria, April 14 -- A Magistrate in Rivers State has announced his voluntary retirement in protest against the emergency rule in the oil-rich state, dealing yet another blow to the Rivers Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas.

In a letter dated 11 April and addressed to the state chief judge through the secretary, Rivers State Judicial Service Commission, the Magistrate, Ejike George, said he was uncomfortable with the appointment of the retired military officer to run the state.

"This difficult and regrettable decision is informed largely by my discomfort with the recent appointment of a quasi-military administration to run the affairs of a modern state like ours," Mr George said.

Mr Ibas was appointed as the sole administrator for Rivers by ...