Tells opposition to trade with caution.
By Princely Onyenwe,Imo
Following the controversy over the recent law passed in Imo state,The Deputy Governor of Imo state, His Excellency Prof Placid Njoku, has cleared the air on the smouldering smoke around the Administration of Criminal Justice Law in Imo State signed by His Excellency the Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma which was alleged to give the Governor powers to arrest and detain anyone at his pleasure. His Excellency, the Deputy Governor expressed displeasure at the extent mischief makers can go in their attempt to lie to and deceive the people. He describe such as wrong and very unprofessional. He stated that the current misinterpretation of the law was unnecessary and diversionary, crafted by certain people who may not really understand the provisions or chose to score political points at the expense of Imo people which the Deputy Governor described as a bad practice.
His Excellency the Deputy Governor informed all that the said law has no provision which gives the Executive Governor of Imo State the powers to indefinitely detain anybody.
The State Deputy Governor Prof. Placid Njoku stated this when he represented the State Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma at the Special Assizes marking the commencement of the 2020/2021 legal year held at the Hon. Justice C. Oputa High court complex, Owerri. This year’s Assizes was attended by the Presiding Judge and other Justices of the court of Appeal, many legal luminaries of the state Bench and Bar as well as visiting current and former chief judges from other south east states.
In a chat with 9News correspondent Imo state, Prof. Njoku made it clear that the law in question derived from a Federal law and that the domicilation in the State was almost completed before the assumption of office of the present state government and nowhere did the law provide that the Governor can order the arrest and indefinite detention of anybody.
According to the Deputy Governor, “Nobody in the administration of the Governor Hope Uzodimma today will for any reason arrest you or order that you be arrested and put away.” The law provides that following the order of a competent court and only in the special circumstance of convicted mental cases and under-aged convicts, the Governor has a role to determine where they may be held. “The primary order is of the court and the powers of the Governor is only subsidiary and only in such special cases”.
He called for a synergy between the Bench, the Bar and the Executive to ensure the promotion of the Judicial system in the state while urging the Acting Chief Judge to articulate the challenges of the Judiciary as government works towards addressing them within the limited state resources.
He said the theme of the 2020/2021 new legal year, “Refining the administration of justice to surmount contemporary challenges”, should serve as a strategic plan for the Judiciary to redouble their efforts at the speedy dispensation of justice in the State.
Prof. Njoku assured all of government’s commitment to the welfare of Imo people, especially in the prompt payment of salaries and pensions through its automated system now being developed. He regretted the current hitches in the system but hoped all problems will be rectifed soon as the Governor works to bequeath to the State a foolproof payment system.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Cyprian Akaolisa said the Imo state Administration of Criminal Justice law being misinterpreted by the opposition only gives the Governor the power to determine where convicted juveniles can be kept in the correctional centers and stressed that the state government was doing a lot for the Judiciary.
Meanwhile, the state Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ijeoma Agugua in her address said the theme of the legal year looks into how the Judiciary could make minor changes or adjustments in the way justice was administered in order to overcome the present challenges.
She however thanked the state government for showing concern to the welfare of the Judicial Officers and said a lot more needed to be done to reposition the Judiciary against the challenges facing it. A call for opposition to trade with caution to salvage Imo.
