Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has advocated increased synergy between members of the bar and bench to enable seekers of justice receive it without undue delay.
Uzodimma expressed this in Owerri, yesterday while declaring open the Law Week, 2023 edition, with the theme, ‘State of Legal Practice in Nigeria: Imo State in Focus.’
At the event, Uzodimma said the pitfalls in the dispensation of justice should be shared by both the bar and bench.
He said: “I don’t want to blame the bench. Lawyers, also, share in the blame.
“I want to remind you that you are answerable to God Almighty in the discharge of your duty. There is need to work in synergy between the bar and bench.”
He highlighted the commitment made by his administration in ensuring that judges and judicial officers are paid arrears of salaries and allowances/welfare packages owed them by past administrations.
He also promised to collaborate with NBA to ensure the judiciary is truly the last hope of the common man.
In their speeches, the presiding justice of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, Nwosu-Iheme, and others stressed the importance of the NBA and judicial officers, advising that the standard of practice should be maintained and practiced in line with the digital age, enhancing knowledge by constant training, retraining and capacity building opportunities.
The occasion was attended by lawyers, justices, captains of industry, including the Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, Dr. Chioma Nwosu -Iheme; the Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice Theresa Chukwuameka-Chukwukeka; immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata.
Others are the chairman of the 2023 Owerri Law Week Committee, Jude T. U. Nnodum; the keynote speaker/ former Managing Director of Diamond Bank, Uzoma Dozie; the Imo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Charles O. C. Akaolisa, among other former chief judges.
