Enugu Govt Constitutes Panel On Oruku Crisis , As Ugwuanyi Swears In 6 New Judges
The Enugu State government has constituted a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the recent crisis in Oruku, Nkanu East Local Government Area of the state, which led to the unfortunate death of the community’s traditional ruler, Late Igwe Emmanuel Chidiebere Mba, on December 26, 2020.
In a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, the terms of reference of the panel, headed by Justice Harold Eya, include to ascertain the number of persons killed or injured, identify persons, group or institutions who either by acts or omissions were directly or indirectly involved in, or sponsored the crisis, and investigate any other matter(s) that may come to the knowledge of the Panel in the course of the inquiry, not covered in these terms of reference.
Others are to make recommendations regarding persons whom the Panel finds culpable and/or blameworthy in connection with the crisis, and generally make recommendations, in the light of its findings, on how to prevent similar crisis in future and make other recommendations which the panel may consider appropriate in view of its findings.
Prof. Ortuanya disclosed that the panel was constituted by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, pursuant to Section 4(1) of the Commission of Inquiry Law, Cap. 24, Revised Laws of Enugu State 2004, because of “the attendant threats of further breakdown of law and order and breach of the peace in the area and in the overriding interest of the public welfare”.
Other members of the panel, which will be inaugurated on Friday, at the Government House, Enugu, at 10am, are HRH Igwe Amb. Lawrence Agubuzu; Prof. Den Chris Onah; Barr. Anthony Ogbu; Dr. Mrs. Chinwe Onah; Dr. Godwin Anigbo (Secretary) and Barr. Paschal Okoloagu (Counsel for the Commission).
Ugwuanyi’s infrastructural interventions responsible for appointment of 15 judges in four years – Enugu Chief Judge
…As governor swears in six new Judges
The Chief Judge of Enugu State, Hon. Justice Priscilla Ngozi Emehelu, has paid glowing tribute to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his administration’s commitment in the provision of critical infrastructure for the State Judiciary to efficiently discharge its responsibilities in the state.
Hon. Justice Emehelu, who spoke during the swearing-in of six new Judges into the State Judiciary by the governor, stated that prior to the inception of Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration, “it has not been possible for the Judiciary of Enugu State to get even one slot for appointment”.
Describing the swearing-in of the new Judges as historic, the Enugu State Chief Judge stressed that it was remarkable to note that the State Judiciary under the present administration, from 2016 to date, has produced fifteen (15) Judges.
Emehelu thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for making the feat possible, stressing that it couldn’t have been possible if not for his administration’s massive infrastructural interventions in the State Judiciary, especially in “providing all the facilities that are necessary for these appointments”.
According to her, “the committee from the National Judicial Council (NJC) came and inspected what we had on the ground and having been satisfied, gave us the green light which has culminated in the exercise we are performing today. I want to say a big thank you to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for making it possible”.
Speaking after swearing in Martha Nkiru Aroh-Onuoha, Esq.; Paul Chukwuemeka Ugwueze, Esq.; Hyacinthia Urunwa Ezugwu, Esq.; Juliet Uchenna Mogboh, Esq. and Okey Paulinus Anike, Esq., as High Court Judges in Enugu State, as well as Richard Emeka Ogbodo PhD, Esq, as a Judge of the Customary Court of Appeal of the state, Gov. Ugwuanyi explained that the action was sequel to his approvals to the recommendations of the National Judicial Council (NJC), in compliance with Section 271 sub-section 2 and Section 281 sub-section 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The governor, who lamented the difficulties being experienced because of dearth of Judges, pointed out that the appointment of the new Judges was “a timeous relief to the Enugu State Judiciary and the people of the state”.
Highlighting his administration’s recent major infrastructural interventions in the Judiciary, Gov. Ugwuanyi stated that it delivered extensively reconstructed State Judiciary Headquarters complex in Enugu , one new High Court building, eleven new Magistrate Court buildings, two new Open Registry buildings, new permanent Customary Court of Appeal Headquarters building, 34 new Model Customary Court buildings (two in each Local Government Area) as well as other essential tools and equipment, which he said “will be complemented by these appointments for more efficient administration and speedy dispensation of justice in Enugu State”.
The governor therefore congratulated the new Judges on their well-deserved appointments and charged them to bring their expertise and the requisite gravitas to bear on the discharge of their new responsibilities.
Responding on behalf of other newly sworn-in Judges, Hon. Justice Aroh-Onuoha, thanked God and Gov. Ugwuanyi for the elevation.
She equally commended the governor for his administration’s unprecedented interventions in the Judiciary, saying: “Within four years, fifteen Judges were appointed; court buildings have been massively renovated and new ones constructed”.
Aroh-Onuoha went further to appreciate the State Chief Judge for her motivation and support, including others who contributed towards their accomplishment.
By Joan Eze
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