Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has flagged off the construction of modern court buildings across all 17 local government areas (LGAs) of the state.
The project, which kicked off at the Umuene Magistrate Court in Isialangwa South LGA, aims to provide a conducive environment for the state’s judiciary and would be replicated across the remaining 16 LGAS of the state.
Speaking at the foundation-laying ceremony, Governor Otti noted that the project speaks volumes of his commitment to building a community with access to justice, assuring that he will work with the Judiciary and other stakeholders to build an ecosystem where justice is the order of the day.
He stated that the construction of the modern court halls aligns with his campaign promise to strengthen the judicial system in the state and ensure it meets the demands of 21st-century judicial service delivery.
“We have come to fulfill a major campaign promise that under our watch, centres of justice administration in the State shall have a more functional appeal.
“This 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.
“This initiative is anchored on the common understanding that access to justice is an irreducible minimum in a democracy”, the Governor stated.
Governor Otti while maintaining that mechanisms have been put in place to monitor the work, warned that he would not accept short falls from the designed work, assuring that the project would be delivered as schedule
He thanked the Chief Judge of the State for her zeal and commitment to transparency and in repositioning the judicial system of the state xz and called on the host communities to take responsibility for protecting the new facilities from 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” , the Governor added.
Also speaking, the Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice Lilian Abai, expressed gratitude to Governor Otti for his commitment to justice delivery in the state and unprecedented support for the judiciary.
Justice Abai assured that the judiciary would continue to uphold the rule of law and noted that the new court halls would significantly boost the productivity of judicial officers.
In his speech, the Chairman,
House Committee on Judiciary and Public Complaints of Abia State House of Assembly and Member representing Umuahia North, Barr. Anderson Akaliro lauded the governor’s efforts, stating that the project would greatly improve judicial service delivery in Abia.
Also speaking, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Ikechukwu Uwanna recalled the long-neglected state of court halls in Abia before Governor Otti’s intervention and pointed out that the project is a testament of the Governor’s commitment to efficient justice delivery.
He said that when completed, the court halls would have a lobby room for lawyers and a room for inmates from the correctional facilities with provision for Judges or Magistrates as well as legal assistants, natural light, ventilation, solar energy among others.
Leaders of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Isialangwa and Aba, Barr. Eze Nwaegoro and Charles Onuchukwu, described the event as a landmark achievement, adding that the project would not only enhance judicial service delivery but also instill pride among legal professionals in the state.
