Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has sworn -in six new Judges, describing their appointment as “a timeous relief to the Enugu State Judiciary and the people of the state”.
Performing the swearing -in ceremony at the Government House, Enugu, Ugwuanyi explained that the action was sequel to his approvals to the recommendations of the National Judicial Council (NJC), in compliance with Section 271 sub-section 2 and Section 281 sub-section 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He highlighted his administration’s major infrastructural interventions in the Judiciary sector to include the reconstruction of the State Judiciary Headquarters complex in Enugu , one new High Court building, eleven new Magistrate Court buildings, two new Open Registry buildings, new permanent Customary Court of Appeal Headquarters building, 34 new Model Customary Court buildings (two in each Local Government Area) as well as other essential tools and equipment, which he said “will be complemented by these appointments for more efficient administration and speedy dispensation of justice in Enugu State”.
The governor congratulated the new Judges on their appointments and charged them to bring their expertise to bear on the discharge of their new responsibilities.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Priscilla Ngozi Emehelu, commended Ugwuanyi for his administration’s commitment in the provision of critical infrastructure for the State Judiciary to efficiently discharge its responsibilities in the state.
Justice Emehelu said that prior to the inception of Ugwuanyi’s administration, “it has not been possible for the Judiciary of Enugu State to get even one slot for appointment”.
She described the event as historic, adding that it was remarkable to note that the State Judiciary under the present administration, from 2016 to date, has produced fifteen (15) Judges.
Emehelu thanked Ugwuanyi for making the feat possible, stressing that it couldn’t have been possible if not for his administration’s massive infrastructural interventions in the State Judiciary, especially in “providing all the facilities that are necessary for these appointments”.
According to her, “the committee from the National Judicial Council (NJC) came and inspected what we had on the ground and having been satisfied, gave us the green light which has culminated in the exercise we are performing today. I want to say a big thank you to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for making it possible”.
The new judges include Martha Nkiru Aroh-Onuoha, Esq.; Paul Chukwuemeka Ugwueze, Esq.; Hyacinthia Urunwa Ezugwu, Esq.; Juliet Uchenna Mogboh, Esq. and Okey Paulinus Anike, Esq., as High Court Judges in Enugu State, as well as Richard Emeka Ogbodo PhD, Esq, as a Judge of the Customary Court of Appeal of the state,
Responding on behalf of other newly sworn-in Judges, Justice Aroh-Onuoha thanked God and Ugwuanyi for the elevation.
She commended the governor for his administration’s unprecedented interventions in the Judiciary, saying: “Within four years, fifteen Judges were appointed; court buildings have been massively renovated and new ones constructed”.
Aroh-Onuoha went further to appreciate the State Chief Judge for her motivation and support, including others who contributed towards their accomplishment.
