New legal year commences in Abia

The Abia state Judiciary has commenced its 2024/2025 legal year formally on October 18, 2024.

The theme of the legal year, “Advancing Justice in Abia State: Tradition meets Innovation” began with a church service at the Federal Medical Centre Umuahia Chapel and was followed by a special high court session presided over by the state Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Lilian Abai at the state Judiciary headquarters, Umuahia.

Abia state governor Dr Alex Otti, who spoke during the church service remarked that a lot of the judges still operate in very difficult conditions in their courts, which are also in different stages of dilapidation.

He likened the entire scenario to the 19th or 20th century, disclosing that it compelled and motivated him to retrofit the state court halls as soon as he assumed office.

“We identified one court hall in each of the state’s 17 LGAs and started their retrofitting. And based on the prototype we have gotten, by the time that we are done, you will have a modern court hall,” he said.

Otti also said that besides retrofitting the court halls, he has decided to introduce innovations and automate the process that judicial officers use in carrying out their jobs.

The state Chief Judge said the Judicial Institute is working closely with national and international partners to provide cutting-edge training on new laws, procedures and technologies.

“Additionally, we are encouraging exchanges with other jurisdictions to learn from best practices and experiences from around the world,” she said.

She consequently asked that the needed resources be made available when requested, submitting that a well-informed and well-prepared judiciary is indispensable in the quest for justice.

According to the CJ, the twin forces of tradition and innovation are not mutually exclusive but are in fact, complementary forces that can harmonise to create a stronger and more efficient judiciary.

The State Attorney General (AG) and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ikechukwu Uwanna, who lamented that litigations have stalled the appointment of new judges for the State judiciary and impacted the administration of justice in the state, urged for a re-think.

“We still have several needless litigation matters (mostly filed before the emergence of Governor Otti’s administration), which have stalled the appointment of judges in the state and directly and indirectly impacted on the service we render to Abians,” he said.

Chairmen of the branches of the state Bar Associations also separately spoke on various issues in the state Judiciary with the Chairman of the Umuahia branch, Mr Isaac Anya submitting that “the easiest way to ensure smooth justice administration in Abia State is to appoint more judges.”

On behalf of the Abia Bar, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Obiora Obianwu, congratulated the judges, stating that the state has an excellent judiciary, though not perfect.

According to Obianwu, whose speech was read by another SAN, Chief Okey Amechi, Abia state judiciary has excellent, knowledgeable and industrious Judges and other judicial officers, who should be moving swiftly upwards in the Nigerian judiciary hierarchy.