Outbursts Of Anambra Chief Judge, Justice Umeadi At The 2014 Annual Chief Judge's Dinner

      

WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE CHIEF JUDGE OF ANAMBRA STATE,

HON. JUSTICE PETER N.C. UMEADI TO THE 3^RD ANNUAL CHIEF

JUDGE'S DINNER HOLDING AT SIR SAMUEL EVENT CENTER

MARBLE ARCH HOTEL AWKA ON THURSDAY 20/3/2014

1.              His Excellency, Chief (Dr.) Willie Maduabuchi Obiano (WHO), The Governor of Anambra State.

2.              Her Excellency, the First Lady of Anambra State.

3.              The Rt. Hon. The Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly,

4.              My Lord the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Anambra State,

5.              The Wife of the Chief Judge of Anambra State.

6.              The Wife of the President Customary Court of Appeal, Anambra State.

7.              The Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Enugu.

8.              The Hon. Chief Judges and Presidents of Customary Court of Appeal of Other Jurisdictions.

9.              The Hon. Judges of Anambra State Judiciary.

10.        The Chief Registrars and Deputy Chief Registrars of the Anambra State Judiciary.

11.        The Learned Magistrates of all Cadres.

12.        The Learned Senior Advocates of Nigeria.

13.        Chairmen and Secretaries of the Branches of NBA in Anambra State.

14.        Retired Hon. Judges.

15.        Distinguished invitees.

16.        Gentlemen of the press.

The fact of this being the 3^rd Annual Chief Judge's dinner in the Judiciary of Anambra State of Nigeria is something to celebrate. Already we of this jurisdiction fondly refer to the event as the CJ's dinner. Last year, 2013 another dimension was added to the original template. The Judicial Divisions took separate tables and competed amongst themselves in which division would turn out with the best in outlook and appearance. We saw candle light works, balloons decorations, carnations on the dresses and suits and palpable enthusiasm which griped the whole event making it fun filled and a thing to remember. Onitsha Judicial Division went home with the first prize and a cheque of N10Q,000,00. On that occasion I did suggest that the prize money be used to fete all the Judicial Officers and Judiciary Staff of that Judicial Division in recognition that the win could not have been possible without the little push of the individuals in the division, no matter their station. As an added incentive it was decided that at this 3^rd Annual CJ's Dinner in 2014 the ACR and Principal Officers of the Registry at Onitsha Judicial Division would be invited and I hope they are seated with us today properly dressed enjoying the fruits of their labour of last years. At today's event the strength of the Judicial Divisions have been enlarged. Each Judicial Division is led by the Hon. Administrative Judge with the Hon. Judges, the learned Magistrates, and the Presidents of Customary Courts. The Hon. Judges of the Customary Court of Appeal have taken a table. The Chief Registrar and Deputy Chief Registrars of the Judiciary have-taken a table too. Let us hope that after today's event some such ACR and his officers would look forward to attending the 4^th Annual CJ's Dinner in 2015 as a reward of their hard work. There is no gainsaying-the dexterity which the Judicial Divisions have applied in winning the coveted prize of the best arranged Judicial Division as you can see today. I remember speaking with an Administrative Judge of a Judicial Division who came to visit my Chambers at the Headquarters at Awka in the days running .up to the 2^nd annual dinner. After our official discussions I tried to find out how their  Judicial Division was getting ready. I met a brick wall immediately. He politely told me not to go there. That it was top secret and I would see their masquerade at the arena at the appointed time. Then I knew the matter was really serious. Before long the First Lady of Anambra State, Her Excellency Chief Mrs. E.V. Obiano would announce which out of the contending Judicial Divisions would carry day. We have succumbed to immense pressure and have created prizes for first, 'second, and third places. That notwithstanding we have kept a respectable distance in the prize between the first place and runners up. Let me make it clear that this dinner and the fun-filled assessment that go with it is in one compartment. The monitoring, updating and control of the work environment of the Judiciary of Anambra State, to maximize clean surroundings, punctuality and time management is in yet another compartment.

His Excellency, My Lords, Learned Magistrates, Learned Senior Advocates of Nigeria, distinguished ladies and gentlemen. This gaiety was not always present in the Judiciary of Anambra State. I became Chief Judge of Anambra State on 26/9/2011. In my speech at my first legal year ceremonies on 26/9/2011 I stated inter alia and I quote "A study I commissioned soon after I was appointed the Chief Judge of Anambra State Judiciary show that from July 2002, the Judiciary Staff Union, Anambra State branch has embarked on strikes resulting in closure of the courts for a whopping 18 (eighteen) times. In the last strike which began on 1/3/2011 the courts were shut until 12/7/2011, over 4 months. The casualty of such prolonged strike is preventable and in the end a calamity. The statistics show that the season of strikes predates the administration of His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi/ the Governor of Anambra State before he assumed office in year 2006, after his many triumphs in the court cases he embarked upon. The records show that the JUSUN had called out its members to strike in July 2002, and November 2003 to March 2004, another marathon of five months of closure of the courts, October 2004, November 2004 and June 2005. Thereafter the JUSUN have embarked on strikes on March 2007, May 2007, February 2008, April 2008, December 2008, January 2009, June 2009, November 2009, June 2010, August 2010, November 2010, January 2011 and March 2011. By a comparative chart drawn, the maximum number of shut down of courts in other jurisdictions all over the country would be 8 as against 18 for Anambra State. I think that we have a collective duty to the Judiciary and our conscience-to accept that in the nature, role and services which we render the closure of courts is archaic, an invitation to anarchy and bereft of Christian charity Apart from throwing the stakeholders into material want, the liberty of individuals, that priceless commodity is compromised. The backdrop is that the official and openly stated reason for the strike of 1/6/09 was to protest over directive of Judicial Service Commission asking two key officers of JUSUN to resign from JUSUN because the relevant laws precluded officers of certain rank to belong to JUSUN. This has led many to wonder whether these incessant strikes were born out of altruistic reasons or were contrived to hold the system hostage. In this light I praise the present executive of JUSUN Anambra State branch for being man enough to refuse to be dragged into the most recent strike by organized labour in Anambra State. It would seem that knowing the delicate importance of the judiciary, organized labour always needs to close the court to quickly achieve effect".

By the time the legal year ceremonies held on 23/9/2013 the landscape had changed completed. Let history record how it happened. In my speech in 2013 this is what I had to say inter alia "I greet the men and women who work in Judiciary of Anambra State in various capacities. I sincerely hope that the conscientious efforts being made to reposition the Judiciary would positively impact on all of you and alleviate your work environment and conditions. I would continue to' celebrate your commitment in reshaping the Judiciary. It is a happy thing that there have been industrial peace and harmony since I became Chief Judge in August 2011. I urge you to be vigilant and do not allow persons with selfish interests to reverse that salutary situation. The future is rosy for all of us if we embrace the proper work ethic anchored on strict discipline". Elsewhere in the speech I continued "In the beginning I exhorted the heroic men and women, all the staff who work in the Judiciary of Anambra state to continue to be of good behavior. In the past two years I harped on hard work, discipline and quick dispensation of rewards in a common standard and verifiable denomination. I dare say that such have been delivered. I am happy that by letter dated 15/8/2013 the JUSUN Anambra State Branch wrote to the Chief Judge inter alia "To thank your Lordship the Honourable Chief Judge of Anambra State for the lots of positive things going on in the State Judiciary since your Lordships assumption of the exalted office of the State Chief Judge more particularly as it affects workers welfare". It would not be difficult to see why the prize money should be taken back for the benefit and enjoyment of all members of staff of the Judicial Division to encourage to continue to give their best to the evolution of the Judiciary of Anambra State.

His Excellency, I came to the Chambers of the Chief Judge with a passion to change the working conditions of learned Magistrates. I thank the ex-Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi CON for yielding to my many supplications and worries in the matter of learned Magistrate culminating in the release of whopping 58 no. new cars as car change to the CR, DCRs and learned Magistrates of all cadres in 2013. There are some remaining which I told the new Governor Chief (Dr.) Willie Maduabuchi Obiano (WMO) yesterday when he paid a familiarization visit to the Judiciary Headquarters. There is need to pay a harzard/robbing/sitting allowance to all learned Magistrates in Anambra State in the minimum of N150,000.00 monthly. I repeat, His Excellency, that the learned Magistrates bear the brunt of the commencement of all criminal prosecution in our judicial system. Add to these their civil jurisdiction which cater for the majority of the landlord and tenant cases and sundry civil cases which throng our courts on a daily basis. The Judiciary would be delighted if there is an announcement before this evening in over that the expected allowance of N150,000.00 monthly to the learned Magistrates would be paid with immediate effect.

For the first time this year the President of the Customary Courts have been invited to the CJ’s dinner and they are here with us. Recently too a law has been passed in Anambra State wherein they have been put at a par with Chief Magistrates in terms of emoluments and entitlements. It is sad that up till now they have not been issued with cars as their counterparts in the Magistracy. The Judiciary implores His Excellency to consider issuing them with cars as a matter of urgency. Let me also tuck in the other sad fact that when cars were issued to the Directors in the Civil Service recently the 3 no. Directors in the Judiciary were left. We urge His Excellency to correct that anomaly.          

The Judiciary is happy with the treatment we have received from the Anambra State House of Assembly over the years. I therefore heartily welcome in our midst tonight the Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Princess Chinwe Claire Nwaebili. Also present are members of the Judiciary Committee of the House of Assembly. I welcome the Hon. Members of the Judicial Service Commission.

I welcome the Guest Speaker for this Dinner, Hon. Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip PhD. Hon. Judge of the National Industrial Court, Lagos, who graciously agreed to be here today and deliver the speech which we would listen to in full before the dinner. This would also afford the Judges enough time to go round the tables of the Judicial Divisions to award marks according the pre-stated conditions. We would have the benefit to listen to a veritable scholar on the bench, who has chosen a contemporary topic of which the Judiciary of Anambra State has added the theme that "Equal sustenance of the three arms of government is a recipe for speedy national development in Nigeria".

His Excellency, My Lords, Learned Magistrates, Learned Senior Advocates of Nigeria, distinguished ladies and gentlemen it is the singular honour, privilege and happiness of my wife and I to welcome you to the 3^rd Annual CJ's Dinner.

Bon Appetit.