The judiciary in Abia State monday entered into a new phase in the quick dispensation of justice following a simultaneous inauguration of modern high court complexes at Umuahia and Aba by the Governor, Chief Theodore Orji.

Speaking at the simultaneous inauguration ceremony at the State High Court Umuahia, Orji said that he decided to give the judiciary a conducive environment to perform its constitutional role, saying that he believes that the judiciary should stand for justice, equity and fairness.

He said that he had always ensured that each of the three arms of government got its fair share of amenities hence they have been working harmoniously since the inception of his administration.

The outgoing governor, who had earlier presented an official vehicle to the state Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Uzokwe at Government House, said that on assumption of office eight years ago he found that the democratic institutions in the state were grossly deficient in befitting infrastructure and he decided to change the situation.

“We met a situation where there were near absence of institutions of democracy such as decent court rooms for judiciary, conducive government house, comprehensively furnished information dissemination centre, workers secretariat, international conference centre,” he said.
Orji noted that he has delivered on his promise because “today, all these institutions that strengthen democracy have been restored”, adding that “these buildings which are being commissioned today represent the new face of Abia State”.

He stated that he was indeed laying the foundation stone for good governance and having put in place all these structures “no succeeding government will ever be bogged down by the lack of these institutions of government (hence) we expect incoming governments to gain mileage by focusing on other needs of the people for improvement of the welfare of the people.”

The governor, who would be going to the Senate on completion of his second term on May 29, insisted that he was leaving Abia better than he met it even though he has been unfairly criticised by his traducers, who have vowed to see nothing good in his administration.
“I still extend my hands of fellowship and friendship to all of them that have been criticising my administration,” he said.

The Chief Judge of the State, Justice Theresa Uzokwe had earlier in her address described the high court complex as magnificent and the product of an able, charismatic, visionary administration of Governor Orji.

She made a comparison of the ultra modern Abia High Court complexes with similar structures across the South-east zone and came out with a verdict that Abia State has got the best, adding that credit should be given to Governor Orji for giving the judiciary a new lease of life.

According to her, since the creation of Abia State from the old Imo State, no governor whether in civilian or military era has been able to impact so positively on the state judiciary.

Justice Uzokwe pointed out that the modern court buildings would solve the accommodation problems of the judiciary and also rub off on the people of Abia as they should expect quicker dispensation of justice in both Umuahia and Aba judicial divisions.

However she pleaded with the governor to extend his touch of modernity to the court rooms in other judicial divisions to ensure total transformation