The Abia state Judiciary has formally marked activities to herald the 2023/2024 legal year with a call for total independence of the judiciary arm of the government.
The programme of activities to mark the formal opening of the 2023/2024 legal year were thanksgiving service held at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Chapel, FMC, Umuahia, Inspection of Guard of Honour by His Lordship, the Chief Judge of Abia state and a special high court session. The events which took in Umuahia recently was very colourful. The inspection of Guard of Honour and special court session took place at the premises of the High court of Abia state, Umuahia. At the special court session with the theme ‘Independence of the Judiciary: A Gateway to a free Democratic Society’, addresses were delivered by the chief judge, the state’s Attorney general and different NBA (Nigeria bar association) chairmen across the state.
The chief Judge of the state, Hon. Justice Lilian Abai, while welcoming all to the event stated that the occasion presented an opportunity for the judiciary to assess their performance and extent of their engagement with other arms of government, stakeholders and members of the public while setting goals for the new legal year.
The Abia state governor, Dr. Alex Otti who was represented by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for justice , in his address, said that, the theme for the 2023/2024 legal year was apt and timely in our society where the common man is desperately looking up to the judiciary as the last bastion. He disclosed that the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and access to justice is not obscure notions to play lip-service to but the essential building blocks for a safe, fair and prosperous society. The Attorney-General opined that independence of the judiciary implies that the judges and other judicial officers are not subjected to inappropriate influences from other branches of government or private interested. Mr. Uwana while pledging the unalloyed support of the executive to the judiciary, noted that since the advent of Dr. Otti’s administration, there has been a synergy between the judiciary and the executive and that in the new Abia, the rule of law and access to justice will be the order of the day. He also disclosed that the leadership of the Dr. Alex Otti is engaging with all the relevant stakeholders to ensure that bill for the financial Autonomy of the Judiciary is domesticated in the state.
Delivering her address, the Abia state Chief Judge, Honourable Justice Lilian Abai, disclosed that presence of the large number of eminent personalities within and outside the state was an eloquent statement of the synergy and cordial relationship that exists between the Abia state judiciary, other arms of government and stakeholders in the justice sector of the society. She also noted that it is only the Judiciary that is tasked with the responsibility of safeguarding the Constitution that binds all Nigerian together amongst all the three arms of government. The CJ who explained judicial independence as the ability of courts to perform their duties free of influence or control by other actors whether government or private said that independence of the Judiciary is the cornerstone of a democratic society and a safeguard for the freedom and rights of the citizens under the rule of law. Describing an independent judiciary as the greatest asset of a free people anywhere in the world, Justice Abai emphasized that judicial integrity and independence must be a priority in the fight to secure human rights at the domestic level. She affirmed that in a true democratic suspension, the Judiciary is the most pivotal arm of government as its roles includes the interpretation of laws, adjudication over disputes involving individuals, organizations and governments, and to ensure the supremacy of the rule of law. Hon. Abai who commended the state government for commencing steps towards the implementation of financial Autonomy for the state Judiciary and legislature respectively as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, noted that upholding and strengthening judicial independence will safeguard the principles upon which Abia state was built and also contributes to the international reputation of the state. She further appreciated the Abia state Governor, Dr. Alex Otti and the Speaker, Abia state house of Assembly, Rt.Hon. Emmanuel Ihuoma Emeruwa for the harmonious relationship existing between the three arms of government applauding His Excellency, Dr. Otti for presenting new five SUVs as official vehicles to every Judge in Abia state while asking for official vehicles for Magistrates, Customary court chairmen and members of the Multi Door court house.
All the NBA chairmen who spoke strongly agreed that an independent Judiciary will guarantee true democratic ethos, uphold the rule of law, increased public confidence in the Judiciary, etc and affirmed that nothing short of an independent judiciary should be ideal in a democratic society like ourselves. Other lawyers spoken with were optimistic that 2023/2024 legal year will indeed usher in the total independence that Abia judiciary is seeking for and prayed that that Abia state Judiciary will witness the domestication of the bill on the full financial autonomy of the Judiciary.
