By: Tochi Onyeubi
The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Owerri branch, Barr.L.U.N Nwakaeti Esq. has blamed the shortcomings of the judiciary in the state to the leadership of the executive arm of government of Imo state.
In his address during the Special Assizes marking the opening of the 2017/2018 New Legal Year of the Imo state Judiciary, he said, the government has found it difficult to comply with the constitutionally guranteed financial autonomy of the judiciary, even after signing an agreement to that effect, adding that, allowances of judges and funds meant for the judiciary are being withheld. He insisted that, it is unconstitutional and a grave disservice to the Principles of Seperation of Powers and Rule of Law, even as he stated that, it is a calculated efforts to unduly intimidate and subjugate the judiciary as an independent arm of government.
Barr. Nwakaeti who insisted that, the executive arm of government have been in total breach of the constitution and violation of court orders, added that, the demolition of Eke Ukwu Owerri, Amaraku and Mgbidi markets in phantom urban renewal drive, while the courts were on annual vacation is an impeachable case, informing that these cases were subjects of litigation, which he attributed to the death of Somtoochukwu and other unrecorded deaths of people.
According to him, the sale of shops at the uncompleted Egbeada Market to the tune of #2.5 to #3million, by the aides of the governor, is 419 in a grand scale, informing that, the demolition of Mechanic villages in Orji and Nekede has put thousands of employed artisans in the unemployment market adding that, same parcels of land are being sold for hundreds of millions of naira to private persons by agents executives.
The legal luminary who stated that, the Governor, Rochas Okorocha has been using his Deputy Chirf of Staff to fight a proxy war against the National Industrial Court, for giving judgement against the state government in the case involving the pensioners and members of the judicial service commission, according to him, is the reason they have not sat for the past 2months, even as he added that the government failed in its bid to get Justice O.Y Anuwe out of the way under their careful vigilance even as he said, inspite of the judgement obtained by pensioners that,entitlement paid in full, the state government have refused to so, which has led to the death of many pensioners.
He however,questioned the whereabout the missing Paris Fund and the frivolous resources expended on the erection of the statues in Imo state. While commending the efforts Chief Judge of Imo state, he appealed for urgent attention to the reforms as stipulated.
