ENUGU State Government has awarded contracts for the construction of 40 court rooms and 10 registries across the state, the Commissioner for Works, Mr Greg Nnaji, has said.

Nnaji disclosed this on Tuesday in Enugu while briefing newsmen on efforts to improve judicial infrastructure in the state.

He said that the total value of the projects was N1.3 billion, adding that the move would hasten the dispensation of justice in the state.

He said that the projects included high court and magistrate court halls and offices.

“It is on record that the last government that had anything to do on judiciary was 15 to 20 years ago.

“That is why this administration has decided to give the judiciary a pride of place in infrastructural development.”

The commissioner said that the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ngozi Emehelu, had requested that the court rooms and registries be sited at specific judicial divisions and magisterial districts.

Nnaji said that the fundamental briefing for the design of the buildings was done by the judiciary.

“They gave us their brief, plan and design tailored to their needs.”

The commissioner said that the ground-breaking ceremony of the projects would hold on Thursday.

He identified some of the local government areas where the projects would be located as Enugu North, Enugu South, Enugu East, Nsukka and Uzo-Uwani, among others.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Ogbuagu Anikwe, said that the state government’s gesture would bring justice closer to the people at the grassroots.

Anikwe said that the move would dissuade such people from taking the laws into their hands in frustrating circumstances.

“Building a court system means bringing justice closer to the people so that if there is a dispute they can resort to the court for arbitration.

“Sometimes, because some people will have to travel for a long distance in search of justice, they may take the laws into their hands,” Anikwe said.

– Jul. 3, 2018 @ 16:49 GMT |