Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Gov. Alex Otti, has flagged off the construction of model court halls across the 17 Local Government Areas in Abia State.
The move, according to the Governor, is intended to create conducive and operational environment for Judicial officers.
In his speech at the foundation-laying ceremony at the Umuene Magistrate Court, Isiala Ngwa South LGA, Governor Otti said the state was in for transformation in every sector.
Otti said the project was a demonstration of his commitment to “building a community with access to justice,” assuring that he will work with the Judiciary and other stakeholders to build an ecosystem where justice is the order of the day.
The Governor added that the project was in fulfilment of his campaign promise to institute an effective judicial system that responds to the 21st century demands of judicial service delivery.
“What we have gathered to witness is not just about the erection of new blocks of court rooms from where those who work in the temple of justice can perform their day to day activities. We have come to fulfill a major campaign promise that under our watch, centres of justice administration in the State shall have a more functional appeal.”
“This project is in line with our vision of working closely with the judicial arm of government to create robust channels for the speedy dispensation of justice”.
“This initiative is anchored on the common understanding that access to justice is an irreducible minimum in a democracy,” Gov. Otti stated.
The State Chief Executive assured that the project would be delivered as scheduled, warning that he would not accept short falls from the designed work, while maintaining that mechanisms have been put in place to monitor the work.
Governor Otti charged the host community to ensure that the court halls and all the facilities to be provided are not vandalised. He thanked the Chief Judge of the State for her zeal and commitment to transparency and in repositioning the judicial system of the state.
“This court hall that we are erecting here is first and foremost the property of the community and they must do everything possible to ensure that the halls are not vandalised,” the Governor stated.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice Lilian Abai, said that the flagging off of the new court halls by the Governor is unprecedented in the state judiciary, saying that it would enhance productivity among judicial officers.
Justice Abai commended Governor Otti for his commitment towards justice delivery in the State and assured that the Judiciary would uphold the rule of law.
In his speech, the Chairman,
House Committee on Judiciary and Public Complaints of Abia State House of Assembly and Member representating Umuahia North, Barr. Anderson Akaliro, lauded the efforts of the Governor and said that it would improve in the service delivery of the judiciary.
Also speaking, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, recalled the status of the court halls in the State and its neglect for decades and said that the project is a testament of the Governor’s commitment to efficient justice delivery.
He said that when completed, the court halls would have a lobby room for lawyers and a room for inmates from the correctional facilities with provision for Judges or Magistrates as well as legal assistants, natural light, ventilation, solar energy among others.
In his address,the Mayor of Isiala Ngwa South, Dr. Elelenta Nwambusi Elele, noted that the court was nothing to write home about before the intervention of the Governor.
While appreciating Governor Otti for the project, he said that the need to provide conducive environment for magistrates and judges cannot be over emphasised.
In their speeches, the Chairman NBA, Isiala Ngwa Branch, Barr. Eze Nwaegoro and his Aba Branch counterpart, Charles Onuchukwu, described the event as an epoch one.
According to them, the feat is not only a step in the right direction but a morale booster to judicial officers as well as lawyers.
