The Chief Judge of Imo State, Honorable Justice Theresa Chukwuemeka-Chikeka, stated that the state has suffered the loss of at least 12 courts to gunmen over the past two years.
The jurist revealed this information during the commencement of the 2023/2024 Legal Year at the Hon. Justice Chikwudifu Oputa Court Complex in Owerri.
Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, was represented by his deputy, Lady Chinyere Ekomanu, at the event.
The Chief Judge emphasized that insecurity remains a significant challenge for the judiciary in the state.
Justice Chukwuemeka-Chikeka stated that the Imo State judiciary has experienced losses in personnel, infrastructure, and productivity due to insecurity.
She said, “It has become the foremost problem facing the judiciary, as with other facets of our life, particularly in the past few years. This has resulted in the loss of personnel, infrastructure and man-hours. Within the last two years alone, the judiciary has lost more than a dozen of courts.”
Chukwuemeka-Chikeka however, listed some courts affected during the unknown gunmen siege including: High Court, Etiti, High Court Atta Nwabiri, Magistrate Court Okpala, Customary Court Umunneke and Customary Court, Ihioma.
She added that in 2023, the High Court sitting in Orlu and the High Court sitting in Oguta respectively, as well as Magistrate Court, Ubulu, were also affected.
She urged legal practitioners to apply more diligence and vigilance in the discharge of their duties.
She enthused, “It is true, safety is of the Lord, but much diligence and vigilance is required of each and every one of us in order to combat this menace.”
During the commencement of the 2023/2024 legal year, Uzodimma pledged to ensure the smooth functioning of the justice system in the state, emphasizing the judiciary’s role as the ultimate recourse for the ordinary citizen in society.
The governor reaffirmed the state government’s dedication to collaborating with the judiciary to uphold justice in the state.