An Imo-based senior lawyer, Ikechukwu Nwaopara has shed light to the frustration that accompanies litigation in the state because of the shortfall in the number of judges.
Barr Nwaopara in an article he posted on Facebook revealed that three judges will going on retirement from now till March next year and will be allegedly leaving the state with less than ten judges to handle the already overwhelming cases of the state high court.
He called on the Imo state government to appoint a minimum of 30 new judges to save the pitiable state of the state judiciary and also save litigants as well the trade of lawyers who are being frustrated because of the situation.
Nwaopara, in the post, also called out the Imo state branch of Nigeria Bar Association, for not putting enough pressure on the state government to appoint new judges.
Read all he said below:
“The sorry pitiable state of IMO state Judiciary and the toothless bull dog Called Nigeria Bar Association “
A clarion call to Gov Emeka Ihedioha to come to the rescue…
“First and foremost I am a senior lawyer in the state of almost 20years in the bar. I am also a member of Nigerian Bar Association Owerri branch.I am also an Owerri based legal practioner. It means therefore that whatever am about to say now was said consciously.
“Today the state of IMO state Judiciary is in sorry state. Legal practice in IMO state is becoming very frustrating and uninteresting every day. Imagine that from now to March next year about three high court judges will be going for retirement meaning that we will have less than 10 judges in the high courts of the state. Already the Judiciary in Imo state is in serious shortfall of judges for the high courts.
“Can you believe that in a high court especially the ones in Owerri you will see the cause list containing not less than 30 cases daily for one judge. Sometimes I wonder if these judges are not human beings. How can a judge adjudicate not less than 30 matters daily in his court and the stakeholders sees it as a normal thing.
“Most frustrating is the fact that some of these judges get tired mid way hearing these cases and it is the lawyers that suffers it, mostly the junior lawyers, whose cases always come last because of seniority practice in the bar. Clients with such bitter experiences under these junior lawyers end up taking their files to senior lawyers while dropping the junior lawyer.Such no doubt affects practice as a young lawyer.
“Take a look at the issue of adjournment. Can you believe that as a lawyer, your matter will only come up less than 5 times in a whole year out of which public holidays, law week, strike/industrial action may reduce the said number of times.
“The reason is simple. Diaries of these courts are always filled up with over 30 cases everyday. A situation whereby adjournments are made three months later especially in criminal matters where some one is in prison is the most terrible aspect of the sorry state of the IMO state high courts.
“Interestingly, the rules of court and the law provided that not less than 30 judges should be appointed to preside over high courts in IMO state. But we have less than 10 in IMO state.
“In Anambra, the state government appoints about 2 to 5 high court judges every year. In Abuja only Jabi or Utako judicial divisions alone have several judges. This sorry state of high courts in IMO state is not only affecting the lawyers, litigants, accused persons but the society in general.
“It is one of the reasons why we have congestion in the federal prisons. I am calling upon the Governor to please appoint not less than 30 new judges to bring out IMO high courts from this sorry state.
“I am calling upon the NBA to rise to the occasion by intensifying the advocacy for the appointment of new judges in IMO state while reminding the NBA at the same time that they are nothing but a pressure group and not a merriment association.
“The sorry state is indeed destroying the lawyers market in IMO state. Something must be done now. Let my Governor hear this. God bless IMO state.
Proud lawyer any day anytime.”
