Fides Media Living the Faith
. . . Says Government, a continuum
By Ikeugonna Eleke
For the actualization of a division of the Court of Appeal in Anambra State, the President of Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa, last Wednesday received commendation from a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Anambra State, Barrister Peter Afuba.
Expressing his joy over the establishment of the Court of Appeal Division in Awka, Barrister Afuba commended all those who in one way or the other facilitated the actualization of the Appeal Court branch.
He said the application for the court to be established in Awka kicked off during his time as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice under former Governor Peter Obi’s regime when Obi’s Administration attracted the establishment of a Federal High Court and Customary Court of Appeal in Awka.
He commended former Governor Peter Obi for his foresight in initiating the process, as well as the incumbent governor, Willie Obiano, for understanding that government was a continuum by actualizing the establishment of the Court of Appeal in the state.
‘I am happy with Obiano for acting on that aspect of governance for better justice delivery as my heart is gladdened,’ Afuba gushed.
The former Anambra Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice commended the current Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr UjuNwogu, and all those who contributed in the Ministry of Justice and Judiciary to ensure that the Appeal Court project became a reality after meeting all the conditions stipulated by the President of the Court of Appeal.
The conditions, Fides gathered, included a court hall, administrative building and chambers and residences for five justices. Investigation reveals that over seventy percent of the cases at the Enugu Division of the Court of Appeal originate from Anambra State.
Afuba disclosed that siting an appellate court in Awka would lessen the sufferings of Anambra people traveling to other areas like Lagos, Kaduna, Enugu, Ibadan and Abuja for their appeal.
He said it would equally reduce the cost of travelling to Enugu frequently to obtain justice, and time of obtaining justice, as well as the huge fees paid legal practitioners for their services, noting that the socio-economic benefits of the court in Awka were great.
He also commended the five-person committee, headed Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, to work for the creation of the appellate court; Mrs Patricia Igwebuike, the Special Adviser to the State Government on Legal Matters; as well as other committee members, including Justice Anthony Iguh, formerly of the Supreme Court; Dr Uju Nwogu, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice; and Mr Emeka Etiaba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.