Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, will on Wednesday, 29th October, commission the newly completed Umuene Court Building Complex in Isialangwa South Local Government Area.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Prince Kanu said the project is part of the present administration’s ongoing judicial reforms aimed at enhancing access to justice across the 17 Local Government Areas.
“The State Government is constructing 17 new courthouses across the 17 Local Government Areas of the State. The Umuene Courthouse therefore represents the first of the 17 courthouses to be constructed,” he said.
The Commissioner described the new buildings as “State-of-the-art and equipped with best-in-class facilities that will improve the course of the justice delivery system in the state.”
He added that the initiative reflects the Governor Otti-led administration’s belief that “the judiciary represents the conscience of democracy and is an indispensable pillar that must be strengthened through easy access to justice by citizens.”
“The new courthouses will become beacons of innovation and technological advancement in the justice delivery system.”
The Commissioner used the opportunity to caution motorists against flouting traffic regulations as the State Government launches its state-wide road safety campaign.
Prince Kanu said the campaign, tagged “Road Safety is a Shared Responsibility, A Drive to Arrive”, would be jointly executed by the State Ministry of Transport, the Harmonised Task Force, and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
“Of particular focus is the issue of driving against traffic, referred to as one-way driving. Because of the menace that this practice poses on our roads, the State Ministry of Transport, through the Harmonised Task Force and in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps, have launched this campaign,” Kanu said.
He warned that no motorist, regardless of social status, would be spared if found violating traffic laws.
“No matter how highly placed in society, if you are caught violating traffic rules, you will be made to face the full wrath of the law. Even the Governor of the state obeys traffic rules with his convoy,” he emphasised.
