‘Justice Admin Under Pressure Over Long Courts’ Closure’

L-R: Representative of the Commandant, National Defence College, Amb. Chijioke Wigwe; Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Oshita Oshita; Representative of the Inspector-General of Police, AIG Patrick Dukumor and Representative of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mazi Okeahilam Nzem, at an Inter-Agency Collaboration for Crises Management and Peace-building for Security agencies, Humanitarian Workers, Civil Society Organisations and other stakeholders in Abuja yesterday.

A Port Harcourt based
lawyer and social crusader, Barr. Chijoke Agi, has said that the closure of the courts for more than one year had put so much pressure on justice administration in the state.
Barr. Agi, who stated this while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt Monday noted that most magistrates and judges were having an aweful time handling the glut of cases in their courts.
He said that a law to checkmate repetition of what happened in the judiciary in the last one year should be put in place.
The Port Harcourt lawyer explained that the closure of the court was an ill-wind that had caused catastrophe in Rivers State justice administration.
Barr Agi also stated that the worst hit were the accused persons, who suffered untold hardship in prison custody.
He, however, commended the acting Chief Judge of the state Justice Daisy Okocha for the recent jail delivery which had restored hope of the people in our judiciary.
The Port Harcourt lawyer also called for speeding dispensation of justice in order to reduce the volume of cases in the courts.
He warned politicians not to meddle with the last bastion of the people’s hope and urged people to continue to abide by the rule of law.
Also speaking, another Port Harcourt based lawyer, Barr. Uche Allen, pointed out the closure of the courts had robbed off all segments of the economy of the state.
He said a lot of revenue was generated in the courts such as fines, fees (filing), affidavits among others and described loss of revenue within the last one year of court closure as colossal.
Barr. Allen also opined that litigants suffered great set back.
He said it was unfortunate that the Rivers State branch of the Nigerian Bar Association was divided, little wonder they did not speak and fight concertedly.
He, however, commended the state government for its efforts to ensure that the courts resumed in the state.

Chidi Enyie