Cross River State Chief Judge, Justice Akon Ikpeme declaring open a court session to formally mark the beginning of the new legal year, 2021/2022, Monday in Calabar
Cross River State kicks off new Legal Year 2021/2022
[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]
Cross River State Chief Judge, Justice Akon Ikpeme, Monday, declared open a court session to formally mark the beginning of the new legal year, 2021/2022.
Cross River State Chief Judge, Justice Akon Ikpeme declaring open a court session to formally mark the beginning of the new legal year, 2021/2022, Monday in Calabar
Justice Ikpeme performed the traditional role in her first outing as Head of the state judiciary and also the Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission (NJC) in the state.
In her address, Justice Ikpeme said the event signifies the opening of the assizes.
“In this opening, an age long tradition which we inadvertently abandoned is revived today.
“Towards the end of this court session, a criminal matter will be mentioned to signify the opening of the assizes”, she said.
She presented the Chief Judge’s Annual Report for the preceding year and thanked the Governor, Professor Ben Ayade for assenting to the autonomy bill.
In her words, “On the autonomy law, I congratulate His Excellency, Professor Ben Ayade and indeed all of us on the historic signing of the autonomy bill into law.
“I make bold to say, in signing the bill His Excellency has etched his name in gold. History will not forget this”, she said.
The court session was preceded by a church service at the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Hope Waddell Parish.
Justice Ikpeme said the tradition of thanking God at the beginning of the new legal year started when the white men came and they have decided to keep it.
