Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has announced that work will begin on new court complexes in Aba and Umuahia in November as his administration moves to improve judicial infrastructure across the state.
Each of the planned facilities will include a 1,000-seat auditorium, according to the governor.
Otti also revealed plans to inaugurate 16 additional court halls in phases. Ten are expected to be commissioned after the current Legal Year programme, while five others will be ready before the end of 2026. The final one is expected to be commissioned early next year.
He made the announcement on Tuesday at the 2026/2027 Legal Year Thanksgiving Service held at the Queen Elizabeth Chapel, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia.
The governor said his administration was also working to introduce digital systems across the executive, legislature and judiciary to make government operations more efficient and improve access to public services.
Speaking on the theme of the event, “The Bar, the Bench and the Administration of Justice: Strengthening the Courts that Bind,” Otti highlighted the need for cooperation among the three arms of government without interfering with their constitutional roles.
“The judiciary is a very important arm of government. There is no way the Executive or the legislature can work without the judiciary. But then, the lines are also very clear. And one thing you can be sure of with us is that we will always maintain those lines,” he said.
Otti congratulated lawyers and judicial officers on the commencement of the new Legal Year, commending their efforts to uphold justice and respect due process.
The state’s Chief Judge, Justice Lilian Abai, also praised the relationship between the judiciary and the executive, describing it as “a cord worth strengthening.”
She disclosed that solar power installations had been provided at the High Courts in Aba and Umuahia to improve their operations.
Abai further revealed that the governor signed three pieces of legislation on October 19. They are the Abia State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2026; the Abia State Restorative Justice Law No. 8 of 2026; and the Abia State Criminal Law No. 7 of 2026.
She urged lawyers to safeguard the reputation of the judiciary and maintain a productive relationship with judges.
Earlier, the Anglican Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Ibeabuchi, called on legal practitioners to demonstrate integrity and accountability in the discharge of their duties.
He urged them to learn from King Solomon’s pursuit of wisdom, noting that citizens depended on the legal profession to defend their rights and shield them from oppression.
The event was attended by representatives of the judiciary, government officials and other dignitaries.
