If what it takes the judiciary to rise up to the onerous task of
dispensing justice and other everyday tasks of this distinguished
arm of government is a conducive environment, then the judiciary
has been adequately equipped to excel in Imo State.
With an ultramodern court complex furnished with
state-of-the-art equipment both in the offices and courtrooms, the
business of the judiciary has been given a new lease of life by the
outgoing state governor, Rochas Okorocha, who conceived and built
the Justice Oputa Court complex in memory of one of Nigeria’s
finest jurists, Hon Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.
The edifice built in a sprawling area of Owerri, according to
the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mohammed Tanko,
represented at the commissioning by Hon Justice Amina Augie, is the
best in the country.
Before now the State High Court and other lower courts were
housed in a colonial apartment that added to make the business of
the judiciary more cumbersome and frustrating.
Speaking during the commissioning handing over of the complex,
which was attended by eminent jurists and state Chief Judges, the
CJN, charged Judges in the country to write Judgements because of
the monetary benefits but for posterity.
Tanko who was represented by a Judge of the Supreme Court, Hon.
Justice Amina Augie, said, “We thank God for the vision given to
His Excellency, Governor Rochas Okorocha that came to fruition in
the realisation of this wonderful court complex. I doubt if there
is any state in this country that has a High Court Complex as
magnificent as this one. For this, we thank God for His Excellency,
the governor of Imo State, we thank God for the Judges of Imo State
and we thank God for the people of Imo State who are going to
benefit from this complex after the commissioning.
“The complex is so comfortable that it will enable judges to
relax and do their jobs well and give justice without fear, favour
or ill will. At the same time, when you walk in and see the name of
the complex, Hon. Justice Oputa Complex, he is one of the greatest
Jurists this country ever had. Till today, if I am writing any
judgement, I still rely on him because he was a great jurist. He
was able to capture the law, he was able to explain it and was able
to put it into clear words.
“Justice Oputa was an example of what a Judge should be. He
never knew that one day a complex like this will be named after
him. This is a message to all living judges that we must all have
posterity in mind. It tells us that whatever we are writing, we
should remember that one day, hundred years’ time one of your
grand-children will be reading whatever rubbish you have written or
reading something sublime you have written and they will proudly
say, my grandfather or mother has done well by the kind of
judgement he or she has written.”
He continued that, “posterity beckons on us not to write bad
judgements today because somebody paid us money, tomorrow that
person is gone, your reputation down the drain, your children will
never want to accept that they were your children. When they are
confronted with your name, they will deny it because the
association comes with something shameful. Is this what we want as
Judges? Or do we want, when long we are gone, our works will teach,
motivate and inspire people even those who don’t know the law.”
Earlier in his speech, Governor Rochas Okorocha, stated that he
would be remembered for all the works he has done as the governor
of the state after he must left as governor, saying, “I stand here
today to present to you this wonderful edifice which is tripartite
in arrangement. The first building standing by the left is called
the Justice Building and the one in the middle is Building of
Equity and the last one is Building of Fairness.”
In his words, “when I came in as the governor, I was not lucky
like those packaged by the elites of Imo State. I hadn’t any
support of the big masquerade politician in the State. I came in as
the governor of Imo State through the window of the masses and not
through the door of the elites. I didn’t have the co-operation of
who is who because I bend protocols for the good of the masses. I
have never broken any protocol or law, I only bend it a bit and
make sure it doesn’t break, and at the stage of breaking, I
strengthen it to the destination I am going to.”
He continued, “One thing you cannot take away from me is that I
came here with a passion and vision to make Imo better. But if I
have followed your way, this structure standing here wouldn’t have
been standing because there were many governors and leaders before
me. If I had followed your style and system, the International
Cargo airport which is the biggest in this country won’t be
standing tall at the airport and so many other projects of note.
Only few days ago, we collected the licence of four new
Universities, all established in Imo State but yet you don’t
understand.
“Today, we have the best police headquarters in Nigeria after
the one in Abuja and we have the best prison headquarters in Imo
State all built by this government and our Justice Oputa Court
Complex stands tall in Nigeria today. Let my work speak for me even
after I leave office. This is the only message I have for my
political opponents and definitely my work will speak for me.”
The governor said, “By 29th May, I will no longer be governor
and never in the history of mankind will I be your governor again.
But one thing I am sure is that I have done what I will be
remembered for. I have opened up Owerri, I have given Owerri a new
life and today our city is functioning, our roads are expanded,
real estate is growing in geometrical progression. I have turned
land to a capital as wealth set aside for production of further
wealth. “Imo people will remember as the person who expanded and
developed Imo, Imo people will remember me for the free
education.”
The Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice Pascal Nnadi in his speech
said, “The event of today, which is the official and ceremonial
commissioning of the new Justice Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa High Court
Complex marks a major milestone in the annals of the history of the
Judiciary of Imo State Nigeria. This edifice and world class Master
Architecture was solely conceived, designed and erected by the
Rescue Mission Administration of His Excellency, Owelle Anayo
Rochas Okorocha, the governor of Imo State of Nigeria.”
Justice Nnadi added “This is coming at a time when the Judiciary
in the State is in dire need of such accommodation and facility for
the execution of their legal duties. The Commissioning of this
Complex today will go a long way to reduce the threatening
suffocating situation of insufficient court facilities which for
many gave rise to the uncomfortable situation which we have found
ourselves in where Court Judges store one Court Hall”.
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