REPORTER: JOHNE MADUAGWU
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State says efforts are being intensified to provide conducive working environments for the judiciary.
Governor Otti stated this during a ceremony to mark the commencement of the 2026/2027 Legal Year in Abia State.
The Governor said ten new court houses were set for commissioning while five more would be ready before the end of the year, just as ultra modern court complexes were being planned for Umuahia and Aba.
In her address during a special court session, the Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice Lilian Abai, emphasized that the administration of justice was a shared enterprise which all participants must work towards strengthening.
”The responsibility is ours to ensure that the cords connecting the bar, the bench and the wider administration of justice are not weakened by misunderstanding or institutional silence but strengthened by mutual respect, communication, and a common commitment to justice” she said.
Justice Abai commended the bar for their willingness to engage the government on matters concerning the safety of judges and welfare of court staff to ensure that the wheels of the justice delivery system were moving smoothly.
In their presentations, the Chairmen of the branches of the Nigerian Bar Association in the state including Mr. Afam Anumba and Ezera Oka, called for the appointment of more judges to reduce the heavy workload on members of the bench and improvement in the conditions of magistrate courts in the state.
Earlier in a special church service, the Anglican Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Right Reverend Geoffrey Ibeabuchi, called for a judiciary that is guided by the fear of God, fairness and the protection of the vulnerable, while praying for wisdom, courage and divine protection for its officials.
Highlights of the event was a parade that was mounted by officers and men of Abia State Police Command for the Chief Judge at the premises of the High Court Complex, Umuahia.
