Abia State Governor, Alex Otti has embarked on construction of modern court buildings in each of the 17 local governments of the state as he extends his infrastructural tranformation agenda to the judiciary.
Starting with Umuene Magistrate Court, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government where he performed the foundation laying ceremony of the building project, Thursday, October 3, 2024, Otti said that the modern blocks of court rooms would spring up across the state.
He said that there was need to create conducive environment for smooth running of the wheels of justice system right from the lowest level so that both the poor and the rich would have unfettered access to justice.
Otti argued that all achievements recorded in social infrastructure would be meaningless without an effective justice system “in view of the importance of the judiciary as a major anchor of our civilisation”.
He noted that provision of modern court buildings is in fulfilment of “a major” electoral promise he had made to the effect “that under our watch, centres of justice administration in the state shall have a more functional appeal”.
According to him, “these projects are self-sustaining (as) we have incorporated renewable energy and water supply mechanisms into the structures, the IT-support system shall be best-in-class”.
In addition, he said that “all the resources needed to support the work of the judicial officers have been incorporated into the project design”.
Otti explained that the court building 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”.
He also pointed out that “this initiative is anchored on the common understanding that access to justice is an irreducible minimum in a democracy”, adding that “justice is the foundation of enduring development”.
The Abia Governor said he remains committed to his goal of putting in place an effective judicial system that responds to the 21st century demands of judicial service delivery.
He expressed optimism that by improving the infrastructural facilities, and working with the judiciary, and other stakeholders, Abia would transform into a community synonimous with robust access to justice.
“In the New Abia, there is a consensus that the rights of a poor widow are as important as the legal safeguards of a wealthy industrialist who wants to enforce the terms of his contract,” he said.
Like he has always advised concerning public-funded projects, Governor Otti charged the host community to own the court buildings and guard them against vandalism.
“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 vandalized,” he said.
The Abia chief executive lauded the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Lillian Abai, “for her zeal for an improved judicial system, prudence and commitment to transparency”.
In her address, the Abia CJ had commended Governor Otti for his commitment to ensuring effective justice delivery in the state, assuring him that the judiciary would always uphold the rule of law.
Justice Abai noted that the initiative to construct 17 modern court buildings across the local governments is unprecedented in the Abia judiciary, adding that it would enhance productivity among judicial officers.
Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary and Public Complaints of Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Anderson Akaliro praise Otti for turning attention to the judiciary, saying that service delivery would be enhanced.
The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, recalled that decades of neglect had resulted to the poor state of Abia court halls, adding that Otti has come to change the situation.
The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) welcomed Otti’s initiative to transform judiciary infrastructures with the chairman of NBA Isiala Ngwa Branch, Eze Nwaegoro and his Aba Branch counterpart, Charles Onuchukwu, describing the project as commendable.
In their separate remarks, the local NBA leaders noted that with befitting infrastructural facilities and effective justice delivery system, legal practitioners in Abia would hold their heads high any where they go.
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