The High Court Complex, Owerri, the Imo State capital, has been in tension following the news of the sacking of 10 Imo State judges, by the National Judicial Council, NJC.
As the uproar continues, some staff and lawyers were seen discussing with a good number lamenting over the situation.
One of the litigants, who simply identified himself as Chiekezi, said: “My matter, which has been lingering for years, was almost at the point of getting the judgment but with what has happened now, the matter will start afresh and this is if and when a Chief Judge who will assign it to a judge, is appointed!
“My fear is that I don’t see the reassignment of my case happening in the next one or two months. It is a personal loss.”
A concerned citizen, Chike Azuoma, said, “It is sad to note that Imo State, to the best of my knowledge, appears to be the only state in Nigeria that does not have a Chief Judge, an Attorney General and an Administrative Judge!
“What this means is that the judiciary in the state, the third arm of government, is simply non-existent or if you like to use a milder word, comatose.
“Just a few days ago, Governor Hope Uzodimma decried the state of judiciary.
He said, “Beyond this, I really don’t understand how any serving judge should be involved in age falsification. We are talking about people who are supposed to be above board, people who ought to speak truth to power.”
Reacting, Azuoma appealed to Governor Uzodimma to arrest the ugly situation and dwindling fortunes in the Judiciary.
