The new Substantive Chief Judge of Abia State, Hon Justice Nnenna Chioma Otti has been sworn in along side Justice Innocent Ahunanaya Nwabughuogu and Justice Eleazar Onyekachi Enwereji who were appointed as judges of the Courts of Abia State respectively.

During the swearing in ceremony which held on Monday, April 07, 2014 at the Michael Okpara auditorium, the state governor, Chiet Theodore Orji said the appointments followed due processes, adding that “the legal and constitutional hurdles have been surmounted.”

He told the newly sworn in judges to abide by the oaths of their office by providing impartial, equitable and speedy dispensation of justice to all citizens, without any inhibitions, adding that their service is critical, hence it is tagged as the last hope of the common man.

The governor’s speech:

“It is my pleasure to be here today to swear-in the new Chief Judge of Abia State, Hon Justice Nnenna Chioma Otti, and two other judges of the courts of Abia State. We are taking these measures now to solidify and strengthen our judicial system for efficient and speedy dispensation of justice and for the preservation of peace, harmony and security of Abia State.

“You will recall that since the retirement of Hon Justice S.N. Imo, the former Chief Judge of Abia State on the 19th day of December, 2010, no substantive Chief Judge has been appointed for the State.

“Since then, we have appointed several Judges on Acting capacities to hold forth in the position of the Chief Judge of the State, – including the person we swear-in today as the Substantive Chief Judge of the State.

“During this period, I received a number of calls from our citizens, urging me to appoint a substantive Chief Judge of the State, as well as more Judges to the bench to fill the existing gap, so as to quicken the dispensation of justice in our State. I always assured everyone that there is a due process that we must follow in doing their behest, and that our Government respects the rule of law, not a government of impunity and the whims and caprices of the Governor.

“Just recently, and in line with the laid down principles and Articles of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, section 271, sub-section (1), the Abia State Judicial Service Commission nominated Justice Nnenna Chioma Otti to fill the substantive position of Chief Judge of the State.

“The National Judicial Council then considered that nomination – decided and recommended to the Governor of Abia State that Hon Justice Nnenna Chioma Otti is eminently qualified and proper to be appointed as Chief Judge of the State.

“Further in line with the demands of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I submitted Hon Justice Nnenna Otti’s recommendations to the House of Assembly of Abia State for confirmation, and received their endorsement. These are the rules and we have followed them to the letters.

“Now that all the legal and constitutional hurdles in the appointment of the substantive Chief Judge of Abia State, and the appointments of other two judges of the Courts of Abia State – have been surmounted, I have the privilege to now swear-in:
1. The new Substantive Chief Judge of Abia State, Hon Justice Nnenna Chioma Otti.
2. Hon Justice Innocent Ahunanaya Nwabughuogu, and
3. Hon Justice Eleazar Onyekachi Enwereji.

“It is my expectations and that of our citizens, to see these Judges abiding by the oaths of their office and always seeking to provide impartial, equitable, dignified and speedy dispensation of justice to all citizens, without any inhibitions what-so-ever.

“Yours is a critical service tagged as the last hope of the common man. And you should not fail those that depend and trust so much on your integrity.

“I wish the Chief Judge of the State, and the two other Judges of the State we have sworn-in today, the very best as you serve. May God bless you and your families!”