Catholic Bishop , Obiano Lashe Out On Judges , Appeal To them To Embrace Fairness , Good Conscience and Equity In Dispensing Justice

Obiano greeting Bishop Ezeokafor while Chief Judge Umeadi watches left

 

Can a judge go to heaven? That was on the lips of almost all the clegry and even Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state said it out referring to the Chief Judge ,Justice Peter Umeadi who was smart in answering the question reports odogwuemekaodogwu.blogspot.com.

Governor Obiano and the Catholic Bishop of Awka diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor today tasked judges and others judiciary workers involved in the dispensation of justice to always imbibe the principles of   equity, fairness and good conscience in the discharge of their duties.

For Bishop Ezeokafor , he stated this in his homily entitled “Healers, called to serve the truth in love” at the Eucharistic celebration to mark the beginning of the legal year of Anambra State Judiciary at St. Patrick’s church Awka.

The Bishop's homily read in part:

"First, although the criminal has so to say lost his integrity through his or her behaviour, we are still challenged to treat them with utmost respect because of their God given dignity. It is absolutely important to expedite the trial of offenders. The situation of keeping people awaiting trial for years is unacceptable.  Justice.

"The second proposal I want to make is about public enlightenment. A visit to our prisons shows that some of the convicts are there because they were deceived either by the investigating police officer or someone else to plead guilty to the offence they were charged with in the belief that this would gain them their freedom. .  I think that there is need for public enlightenment campaign to make sure that no innocent victim of circumstance is put behind bars through deceit.

Thirdly, I get some reports that minors are sometimes being held in the same facilities with convicted adult offenders. If this is true, we can expect that these minors would come of these places hardened all the more. For the good of our society, suitable facilities for the reform of juvenile offenders should be made available. This is a campaign that all of us should prosecute. But as members of the bar and the bench, your leadership in this matter is needed since you operate an essential component of the justice system.
"My last suggestion, the bishop said "is with regard to crime prevention by addressing some root causes of crime and delinquency which include: lack of parental care, unemployment, the get-rich-quick syndrome and the enthronement of money as the dominant value our society..."

Speaking on the occasion, the State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano thanked the state Judiciary for its complementary role in the fight against criminality in the state.

The Governor, who assured the judiciary in the state of better days ahead, hinted that the state government would soon appoint eight more judges to fast -track justice dispensation, adding that he had also approved the construction of 30 magistrate court halls.

In a special court session to mark the event, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Peter Umeadi  restated the need for financial autonomy for the judiciary, pursuant to section 121 (3) of the 1999 constitution of Nigerian and a recent court judgment in that respect.