Gov. Obiano, Bishop Alex Ibezim Dissatisfied With The Number Of Awaiting Trial Inmates

THE Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, and the Anglican Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Reverend Alex Ibezim, have expressed dissatisfaction with the increasing number of inmate awaiting trial in the state.

Obiano and Ibezim also expressed the need for the justice administration system in the state to rise to ensure quick justice dispensation in order to reduce the number of persons awaiting trial in the state prisons.

Speaking during the annual Legal Year of the state judiciary on Monday in Awka, the governor promised to work closely with the judiciary to ensure that prisons in the state were decongested without delay.

Obiano said, 

“The other day, I visited the Onitsha Prisons, out of 1,400 inmates, 720 persons were under awaiting trial. This is unacceptable to this government. We must do something to ensure that justice is done to everybody.”

In his sermon on the occasion at St. Faith Anglican Church, Awka, Ibezim urged the judiciary to ensure that innocent citizens would not suffer injustice because of the wickedness of somebody.

Ibezim also called for the redress of the increasing number of inmates awaiting trial in Nigerian prisons.

The Anglican cleric, whose homily centred on ‘Power and Accountability’, observed that some innocent people were being incarcerated because of injustices in the system.

“We condemned South Africa when the late Nelson Mandela was incarcerated, but today, we have many Mandelas in Nigerian prisons,” the bishop remarked.

In his address, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Peter Umeadi, said the judiciary in the state had concluded arrangements to review High Court and Magistrate Court laws in the state for more effective justice dispensation.

He regretted the current industrial action of judiciary workers in the state, saying the strike was avoidable.

The Anambra State branch of JUSUN commenced strike on 7th of September over government’s inability to pay to them the Consolidated Judiciary Staff Salary.

Umeadi said, 

“We have every reason to support JUSUN in their quest to achieve the long drawn and much debated issue of CONJUSS based emoluments.
“The demands of the state JUSUN are borne from agreements entered with Anambra State Government in 2011, which are legitimate, feasible and achievable.
“It is not correct to muddle issues with other interests when the CONJUSS, which is backed by law and requisite regulations, are raised.”

Chief judge urged the state Attorney-General, Head of Service and the state government to come to terms with JUSUN on the issue. He commended the state government for granting autonomy to the state judiciary and for appointing eight judges and 20 magistrates recently.

Justice Umeadi assured that the judiciary arm would continue to collaborate with the executive for the progress of the state.

He said, 

“The Judiciary Service Commission is looking forward to sponsor a bill with the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice through the State Assembly for the appointment of Revenue Magistrates.”

He said the duty of such magistrates would be to assist the state government in ensuring payment of taxes and generation of revenue.

Source
PUNCH