Delta judiciary seeks financial support to surmount challenges

Delta State judiciary, yesterday, marked the opening of the 2022/2023 Legal Year with stakeholders, calling for increased budgetary provisions to surmount the financial challenges facing it.

Chief Judge of the state, Justice Tessy Diai, made the call while presiding over a special court session to herald the new year at the High Court of Justice, Asaba.

Diai highlighted achievements of the state judiciary during the period under review including the construction of a new six-floor high court complex, which nears 70 per cent completion, and procurement of office furniture and equipment for some courts across the state, among others.

He expressed concern over the dwindling capital budget of the judiciary since the COVID-19 era and disclosed that almost the entire capital budget of the High Court in the 2021/2022 legal year was applied to the completion of the new complex even as she expressed confidence that the project would be completed, furnished and commissioned soon.

Explaining the essence of the ceremony, the CJ said: “Beyond the ceremonial formalities associated with the new legal celebration, the occasion also offers the Judiciary opportunity for self-appraisal, stocktaking and dissemination of information to the legal community and the general public with regard to its activities in the preceding year.”

According to her, despite the decline in the budgetary provision, official vehicles have been procured for some departments of the High Court to ease movement and enhance efficiency.

On upgrading, Diai stated that the state Judiciary has purchased equipment for e-filing and virtual hearing.

Diai revealed that a total of N549,152,217.85 was generated, but “our challenges are inadequate funding, basic infrastructure, official vehicles for judicial officers of the lower bench and shortage of manpower among others.”

She implored the Executive and the Legislative arms to increase the budgetary provisions of the Judiciary to enable it effectively carry out its constitutional duties.

The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Isaiah Bozimo, stated that the Ministry of Justice, Public Prosecutor and Chief Legal Advisor, have taken steps to strengthen it by launching “Legal Skills Competency Framework” to ensure that all legal officers receive best-in-class training in advocacy, advisory work, among others.