Judiciary
THE Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom, Justice Ekaete Obot, has called for regular release of funds to the judiciary to ensure effective dispensation of justice.
Obot made the call while speaking at the opening of the 2024/2025 legal year in Uyo in Monday.
The chief judge said that the judiciary in Akwa Ibom had been grappling with debts arising from non-release of funds in 2023.
She said that the judiciary required adequate funding to perform optimally, saying, “we need funds to maintain our facilities across the hierarchy of court in the state”
Obot further stated that the state judiciary was hugely under-staffed, and required more manpower.
“The last recruitment into the state judiciary was done in 2012. There is need to address the issue of shortage of staff in the system.
“Shortage of staff has made us to assign only one staff to cover duty schedules that are meant for two or three persons.
“Within the last two years, no fewer than 316 staff have retired from the state judiciary without replacement.
“When retirement goes on for many years without regular replacement, many skills and competences will be lost,” she said.
The chief judge decried the absence of basic educational facilities in correctional centres in state.
She suggested the establishment of adult education facilities within the correctional centres to support the education needs of inmates.
“Inmates require basic primary, secondary education and skills acquisition facilities to earn the needed reform,” she said.
In his remarks, Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, assured the judiciary of the state government’s support and cooperation to enhance effective dispensation of justice
Eno commended the chief judge and the judiciary in the state for their steadfastness and commitment to justice delivery.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a special court session was held during the event to signal the commencement of new legal year.(NAN)
A.I
Oct. 15, 2024
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