Otti promises Abia judicial officers conducive operational environment
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Abia Governor, Dr Alex Otti says his administration would strive to provide a conducive, technology-driven environment for the eperations of judicial officers in the state.
Governor Otti told the congregation on Friday, October 18, 2024, during a Church Service at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia Chapel, as part of activities marking the beginning of 2024/2025 Legal Year in the state that he was at pains with the dilapidated state of the infrastructure in the judiciary. He said this informed his administration’s resolve to build modern Court Halls across the state and equip them with technology to enhance operations of judicial officers.
“I’ve always been worried about the judiciary, particularly the judges. A lot of them operate in very very difficult conditions. The courts are in different stages of dilapidation. The entire process is like we are still operating in the 19th or 20th century.
“So, as soon as we assumed office, we thought that it was necessary to simply retrofit the Court Halls. We have began that process and we have identified 17 Court Halls in the 17 Local Government Areas that we have started retrofitting.
“We have the prototype such that by the time that we are done, when you walk into the Court Halls in Abia State, you will know that it is a modern Court Hall,” Governor Otti said.
He further said that the retrofitted court halls would be automated. “We also have taken a principled decision to introduce innovation in the way you (judicial officers) carry out your jobs. You are aware that in some states in Nigeria, the practice of handwriting, the practice of manually documenting everything has changed.
“Today, reports are filed online such that you can work from anywhere, just with the benefit of a single device. We have also taken a decision to automate virtually all the process that you go through,” Governor Otti said.
In his sermon earlier, Rev. Earnest Onyeukwu of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, said that God was looking for a man with a difference like Nehemiah who can turn the people’s reproach to rejoicing and implored the judicial officials not to be distracted but to discharge their functions with the fear of God.
The church service featured special prayers for the Governor, the Chief Judge of the State and other Judicial Officers. The theme of the Celebration was: “Advancing Justice in Abia State: Tradition meets Innovation.”
