HOW IMO LAWMAKERS ACCELERATE SCREENING OF CJ, CUSTOMARY COURT PRESIDENT
It was a quick screening in favour of the incoming substantive Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice Theresa Eberechukwu Chukwuemeka Chikeka, and the State Customary Court of Appeal President, Justice Victor Uchenna Okorie by the Imo State House of Assembly.
In an emergency plenary session held on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, the House screened and eventually confirmed for a substantive position of the Imo State Chief Judge, and the Customary Court of Appeal President, respectively.
Both the newly Screened jurists had held sway under Acting capacities before now.
Following recommendations made to the National Judicial Council, NJC, by former persons who held sway in the two positions, hence the emergence of the two legal icons.
It could be recalled that for the office of the Chief Judge, two recommended successors made by Justice Paschal Nnadi while he was leaving office in 2020 were; Hon Justice Theresa Eberechukwu Chukwuemeka Chikeka, and Hon Justice Eugene Ogadinma Agada.
Similarly, following the retirement of Hon Justice M. E. Njoku, the immediate past President of the Imo State Customary Court Of Appeal on January 5, 2022, he recommended to NJC for Hon Justice Victor Uchenna Okorie, and Hon Justice Sophia Ifeoma Ogwuegbu.
After all considerations and in tandem to NJC policy and regulations, Chikeka and Okorie were shortlisted at the end of the day, although under acting level.
Sequel to the legislative processes, it may not be out of place to posit that the House acted under a letter sent by the NJC to the State Governor, who sought for Assembly confirmation of the two judges.
Interestingly at the Chambers, the two Judges were asked to take a bow as having been duly confirmed.
For Justice Chikeka, the member for Oru East State Constituency and Chief Whip of the House, Hon Chigozie Nwaneri cited her intimidating credentials and enviable Judicial Service to the State.
Same was applicable to Justice Okorie who was also told to take a bow as a fully confirmed President of the Customary Court of Appeal.
Speaker Kennedy Ibeh therefore urged the Clerk to make available clean copies to be transmitted to the Governor, Hope Uzodimma for onward Executive actions.
BILL EMPOWERING WOMEN ON RIGHTS TO FATHER’S, HUSBAND’S INHERITANCE AFTER NATURAL DEATH SCALES FIRST READING
Imo State House of Assembly is set to record a milestone in Legislation if the latest bill before it finally scales through.
Since the present 9th Assembly was inaugurated in June 2019, there had been bills and motions passed into Law.
This time, it is a bill for a Law to protect the property rights of a woman/girl-child to own and inherit their late husband’s or father’s property and other related matters in Imo State.
The bill on June 23, 2022 scaled first reading on the floor of the House.
In the preamble, the private-member bill sponsored by the Member for Oru West State Constituency, Hon Barr Dominic Ezerioha said, if passed into Law, it would address many inhumane treatment meted on persons under the category.
Hon Ezerioha narrated that it will give widows and the girl-child an opportunity to enjoy their late husband’s or father’s estate after natural death.
He decried that by so doing, wicked brothers, uncles and relatives would not have any claim to benefit where they did not sow.
Ezerioha opined, “I noted further that where a man gives birth to only female children, the female children should inherit the estate of their late father and not uncles and brothers who did not suffer with the deceased while living.
“Where the girls are minor, their mother will hold the properties in Trust for them”.
The bill is slated for second reading any time soon.
Meanwhile, it could be recalled that the apex court of Nigeria had before now settled the issue in similar cases of Mojekwu Vs Mojekwu, and Ukaeje Vs Ukaeje.
Bringing the bill to the State, Trumpeta Assembly Vibes learnt, is to domesticate the Law since the Supreme Court had already delivered a judgement to that effect in recent cases.
AT 46TH BIRTHDAY, SPEAKER KENNEDY IBEH RENEWS PACT WITH DESTITUTE
Speaker of the ninth Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Kennedy Ibeh has renewed his relationship with humanity.
Last Saturday June 25, 2022 was a new year in the life of the two term ranking member representing Obowo State Constituency, and the number one Lawmaker in Imo State, as he clocked 46 years.
Aside the normal funfair that follows such occasions, Speaker Ibeh devoted half of the day with the motherless children.
Earlier in the day, the number three citizen of the State drove down to the Red Cross Motherless Babies Home, in Owerri, to be with the kids.
It was a moment of joy for the Management and children of the orphanage home, while for the Legal practitioner turned State Lawmaker, it was a moment of reflection.
He made donations of food items and cash for the welfare of the inmates.
Prayers were offered on him.
Rt Hon Kennedy Ibeh availed himself the opportunity in recounting God’s mercy and Grace in his life from a day old to the age of 46.
He promised to continue in the service of God through humanity.
“CARRY GO, WE ARE BEHIND YOU”, NWANGELE YOUTH ASSURES DEPUTY SPEAKER
•AS IWUANYANWU PRESENTS NEW TRANSFORMERS
For public office holders seeking for different elective positions in 2023, the best reward for them currently is genuine endorsements and the assurances from the people.
This is in-line with the representation of the Deputy Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Amarachi Chyna lwuanyanwu as youths of Nwangele State Constituency are ready to vote and defend their votes for his sake.
The above assertion was an assurance of Amaigbo youths to Amara Iwuanyanwu when he presented an electricity transformer to the community.
Apart from expressing delight over the gesture, the youths reiterated that come 2023, they will return the love to him by ensuring he emerge victorious at the polls.
According to them, Iwuanyanwu has surprised the entire Nwangele LGA with unequalled representation within the past 3 years.
The elated Amaigbo youth body described him as a superlative Lawmaker with the capacity to hold in trust their 2nd term mandate.
Also joined in the testimony was Abajah Unity Forum AUF, through the President General, Engr. Ugochukwu Diala who declared their unalloyed support for the second tenure bid of the young Amara Iwuanyanwu.
He noted that his landmark achievements speaks volumes for itself.
Handing over the new chassis transformer to the President General of Amaigbo Town Union (ATU), Sir Fine Madumere, alongside a one million naira (#1,000,000) support donated for the connection, Rt Hon Amara Iwuanyanwu submitted that it was in fulfillment of his campaign promises, and in ensuring that the Shared Prosperity Mantra of Governor Uzodimma is alive in Nwangele.
He thanked the youths for their unflinching support over the years and promised to do more.
