Gov. Uzodimma has provided access to justice, improved judges’ welfare – Commissioner 

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Imo state, Chief C.O.C. Akolisa, has said Governor Hope Uzodimma “has provided the ordinary man with unfettered access to justice through the establishment and renovation of courts in the state; he has also tried to improve on the welfare of judges.”

He said, “Retired judges are paid their gratuities and pensions, while those still working are paid their salaries and given all incentives to work with. Also, the judiciary staffers are enjoying the best of the salaries from the federal government. This is because the judiciary fought for autonomy, separating it from the Executive and got it. They are now being paid from the federation allocation.”

On assistance to the Justice Ministry, he said, “His Excellency has really assisted the ministry of justice in carrying out our assignments. That’s why it has been easy to publish law reports.

“In 2023, we published. In 2024, we published, and this year we are going to publish  two volumes of  law reports and by the end of the year, we will roll out the new laws of Imo state, a Compendium that will carry the amended laws of the East Central State. The old laws will no longer be applicable in Imo State. It will now be revised as the Laws of Imo state.”

Shedding light on the delay in appointing a new State Chief Judge and the fear of collapse of the State High Court building, Chief Akolisa said the appointment would not be all that easy considering the crisis the state faced with the immediate past chief judge who was relieved of her position.

He recalled that a petition was written against the former chief judge over age falsification which led to her removal, urging Imolites to “exercise patience as the governor would soon recommend somebody for the final approval of the National Judicial Commission (NJC).”

On the High Court building, he said engineering experts had been sent by the governor to look at the building, and that they assured that it would not be pulled down, though there may be some structural defects.