Legal practioners in Akwa Ibom have decried the state of the Judiciary in the state, highlighting the key issues affecting the optimal function of the courts, responsible for the adjudication of justice.
The Lawyers noted that these issues are affecting the independence and welfare of the Judiciary, to deliver on its functions and responsibilities.
Speaking with INSPIRATION FM News, the Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association – NBA , in Akwa Ibom, Barr AUGUSTINE ANEFIOK UDOH mentioned that the Akwa Ibom state Judiciary lacks the needed structure for efficiency and harped on the need to correct the existing anomalies.
Barr AUGUSTINE UDOH specifically referred to the hazards legal practitioners are exposed to in the course of work, following the lack of appeal courts in Akwa Ibom, including low manpower in the available courts across the state.
The NBA Chairman, Barr. AUGUSTINE UDOH also spoke about the poor state of the infrastructure of the Judiciary in the state, insisting that it is further affecting its operational base to deliver justice to the people.
Barrister EKEMINI UDIM went ahead to lament that the courts are flooded with cases, but do not have enough Judges to attend to them.
Barrister EKEMINI UDIM in his submissions added that the courts in the state need to also embrace the use of technology to computerize the justice system, expressing dismay that proceedings are still reported manually, thereby impeding accelerated hearing of cases.
A significant part of the conversation on the state of the Judiciary in Akwa Ibom was the relevance of autonomy. Here, another lawyer, Barrister ANTHONY EBUK, indicated that autonomy will reduce the bias that can be evident in the system.
They all summited that an independent Judiciary will prevent political interference in its procedure, with the administrations running seamlessly and helping the Judiciary build its potency.
