By Celestine Okeh,
The Ebonyi State Government, through the state ministry of Justice said, it has intentionally, laid solid legal framework that will guarantee the citizens unfettered access to Justice in the state.
Dr. Ben Uruchi Odoh, the
Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, disclosed this during the inaugural citizens engagement and accountability forum put together by the ministry.,tagged; "Civic Catalyst: AG Open Forum 2.0", ' Empowering Citizens, Advancing Justice.
According the state Attorney General and Commissioner for justice, the aim of the engagement forum is to empower citizens, advance justice, and mobilize collective efforts towards actualizing the "Justice for All" component of the People's Charter of Needs.
Dr Odoh, highlighted some the lofty reforms, the ministry has carried out in it's quest to ensure unhindered access to justice in the state to include; establishment of Citizen's mediation Center where civil matters are resolved at ease; establishment of office of public defender, remodeling of law library and equipping it with law books, law reports and journals. "When came here, we did not meet any library. You know the tools of lawyers are boots, the latest edition of the law report i found at the law library when i came onboard was that of 2009, while we were in 2023, and we said no, we need to remodel our library to have the e -section and then get books that will enable lawyers prepare adequately and win their cases and serve the people of state". The ministry equally created a legal framework that is called the chapter of justice.; Securing of ten number of text-to - speach machine with the help of United States, for the state judiciary, custodial centers and the ministry; establishment of the state multi-door court house. "Two friends who are into contracts and there is a breach in contract can walk into the multi-door court and have it resolved at the arbitration section. Someone in employment of another and the person's employment has been wrongfully terminated can walk into the multi-door court and have that matter resolved through conciliation.
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In the area of capacity building, Odoh opined that the ministry in collaboration with the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators has train 20 lawyers Dispute Resolution Officers who oversees the multi-door court house.
The Attorney general emphasized that as part of effort to keep the lawyers abreast of the current ternds, the ministry did a lifetime subscription with law pavilion and legapedia so that lawyers can assess online and e-copies of law reports or the offline copies through the library,
Dr. Odoh revealed further that the Ebonyi State Government has also approved the decentralization of ministry of justice to the three senatorial zones of the state. According to plans which will take effect from 2026, one of the ministry's Annex will be located in Afikpo for Ebonyi South, which will serve the legal needs of the five Local government areas in the zone, while that of Ebonyi central will be cited in Ikwo and will service the four Local government areas in the zone. The ministry's head office in Abakaliki will equally service the Northern Senatorial Zone. "so that's some of what we've been able to do in the ministry".
On the area of prison decongestion, the attorney general revealed that the ministry has in collaboration with the office of the wife of the state Governor secure the release of 328 inmates in the correctional facilities in the state,: stressing that custodial centers in state are overstretched.
He said, plans are currently on to build a virtual court in the state where judges and lawyers will ague and deliver judgment at the comfort of their Chambers. According to him, the state is currently using the chief magistrate as a pilot court. "Currently, if you go to the high court. I'm sure that the chief magistrate of Ebonyi state is here. the virtual hearing device is been installed in his court".
Odoh equally noted that the ministry has drafted 32 bills, out of which, 13 has been passed by the state House of Assembly and accented to, by the state Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.. one of which is the upward review of the monetaryl jurisdiction of Chief magistrate Court from 500,000 to 5,000,000 among others. "Before now, his monetary jurisdiction is 500,000 naira.
But this law we have drafted and sent to the House increased the monetary jurisdiction of the magistrate, the chief magistrate, from 500,000 to 5 million".
Dr. Odoh commended the State Governor, Rt Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for the entrusting the ministry under his care, and for enabling environment and free hand he given him to discharge summary his duties. He called on cooperate organization and international partners to synergize with the ministry in its quest for unfettered acces to justice in the state.
The Civic engagement drew participants from the Acadeia, Civil society groups, PWDs, Government circle, the Police, Correctional Service and the media.
State Commissioner for information and orientation, Barr. Ikeuwa Omebe and his counterpart of solid minerals development communities, Engr Chidi Onyia, among others, lauded the Attorney general for the lofty reforms he has carried out in the ministry and assured him greater interministerial collaboration.
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