RAJAB 11 1430 A.H.
FRIDAY JULY, 3 2009.
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Orji okays new allowances for Magistrates
From GAMBO KANNO FUBARA, Umuahia
Abia state Governor, Chief Theodore Orji has announced that a new allowance has been approved by his administration for magistrates.
Also, to be enjoyed by the magistrates and judges is brand new cars, which according to the governor have been ordered by the state government.
Governor Orji who disclosed this during the presentation of the Abia state High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009 on Wednesday at the Aguiyi Ironsi Conference Center Umuahia, said the gesture is part of his appreciation of the judiciary being one of the beneficiaries of the judicial system as well as a motivation to the judicial officers.
He noted that the new procedure rules would hasten the conclusion of cases and limit the number of times of appearance of lawyers in court, as well as reduce the amount of money they would collect as a result of the prolonged case.
“I know that a number of lawyers will kick against these rules because it will reduce the amount of money they collect over a case,” he said.
While commending the state Chief Judge, Justice Sunday Imo, who had earlier signed the Abia State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules into law, for the initiative, Chief Orji expressed delight that the state has joined the league of states with new rules and procedures.
He also called on the law officers to join the war against criminals especially kidnappers by supporting government to make the state safe for everyone.
In her speech, the chairman of the occasion, Hon Justice Onyekachi Otisi, said the civil procedure rules had become necessary because of the global increase in technological development and commercial activity.
According to her, “one of the demands of the resultant societal dynamism is that the administration of justice must, continually undergo vigorous and purposeful change in order to enhance its delivery,“.
She noted that though various stakeholders may have reservations over certain aspects of the new rules, it must be admitted however, that the Abia State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009, “seek to bring the civil justice system in the state in line with the global effort to reduce cost, delay and complexity in its operation.”
Presenting the rules to the public, Chief Amechi Nwaiwu Esq. described the document as concise and easy to read, adding that the publication is a step forward in the administration of justice in the state.
The representative of the embattled company, Malam Saifulmuluk Abubakar who earlier said that they reached 80 percent completion stage, also said though the delay was caused by management and technical problem encountered by the company but assured the state government that they will complete the job on the new deadline.
According to the architectural consultant of the project Mallam Hamza Mahmud each house has five bedrooms with boys quarter and that the company did not present programme of work design.
In his response, the site engineer of the company, Engineer Best Innocent who insisted that the issue of percentage levels which generated hot argument should be kept aside, assuring that their staff were on track to complete the project within scheduled.
