WE DECIDED TO UNDERTAKE THE EMOHUA HIGH COURT BUILDING TO ENHANCE JUSTICE DELIVERY IN OUR AREA - CHIDI LLOYD

–As Rivers Chief Judge Flag Off Construction Of State High Court Complex In Emohua

Following the approval for the creation of the Emohua judicial division of the Rivers State High Court by the State Government, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Hon Justice S.C Amadi on Thursday performed the foundation laying for the construction of a high state court complex in Emohua.

The court complex conceived and undertaken by the Chidi Lloyd-led Emohua local government, according to the council chairman is aimed at enhancing justice delivery in the area

Dr. Lloyd said the creation of the Emohua judicial division became necessary following the congestion experienced at the Isiokpo division of the state high court, where a greater number of court cases emanated from Emohua axis, stressing that the Emohua division would bring relief to the presiding judge in Isiokpo and make him concentrate on cases from the area.

The council chairman said the local government conceived the idea and procured the land for the project in line with his administration’s commitment to changing the narrative about Emohua local government area, emphasizing that Emohua local government area had in the past made news headlines for the wrong reasons.

He said the local government is taking it upon itself to fund the project in continuation of the infrastructure revolution witnessed across the local government area under his watch, stressing that fifty percent of the fund for the project execution had already been released to the works department of the local government.

The council chairman while reeling out the number of projects undertaken simultaneously across Emohua LGA by his administration, attributed his administration’s achievements in infrastructure development to the non-interference of Rivers State government in the allocation of local government councils in the State.

He said the Emohua High Court complex is upon completion expected to be the best in Rivers State, stressing that his administration doesn’t compromise quality in the implementation of infrastructure projects.

Dr. Lloyd who is also a law lecturer and member of the United Kingdom’s Chartered Institute of Arbitration, noted that the project remains dear to him, as a certified solicitor and barrister of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The council chairman also disclosed his administration’s intention to attract the first-ever divisional police headquarters in the local government council headquarters to occupy the almost completed story building police station being constructed opposite the Emohua campus of the Rivers State University by the local government.

In his project description, the supervisor of works, Hon Solomon Ikpo said the creation of the Emohua judicial division followed an application to the state judiciary by the chairman of Emohua local government area, Dr. Chidi Lloyd on assumption of office.

Solomon Ikpo said the proposed court complex which consists of two court rooms was professionally designed to stand out amongst the judicial divisions across Rivers State.

The special guest and chief Judge of Rivers State, Hon Justice S.C Amadi in his address said the creation of the Emohua judicial division of the state high court followed a recommendation by the state judiciary and subsequent approval by the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, H.E Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in February 2023.

He said the recommendation was a result of evidence of congestion at the Isiokpo division of the state high court which has only one courtroom while noting that the majority of the cases in the division, ranging from chieftaincy, land, and other community-based disputes, were discovered to have emanated from Emohua local government area.

He however noted that the creation of judicial divisions is never done on a local government basis, but through careful examination of the delay in justice delivery in judicial divisions occasioned by the congestion of the division, as a result of the number of cases emanating from the division.

Justice S C Amadi further enjoined relevant stakeholders in Emohua local government area to join hands with the administration of Dr. Chidi Lloyd to sustain the prevalent peace and security in the area, stressing that no meaningful development can be achieved in an atmosphere devoid of peace and security.

He also appreciated the Rivers State Government and the Emohua local government under the administration of Dr. Chidi Lloyd for their commitment to improving justice delivery, which he said remains the bedrock of democratic governance.

The ceremony which attracted dignitaries from all walks of life, including judges and magistrates from the Rivers State judiciary, and traditional rulers, also had in attendance the vice chairman of Emohua LGA, Hon Mrs Edna Nyeche Addis: leader of the legislative assembly, Hon Mrs Love Nyenke and secretary to the local government council, Chief Vincent Chukwu amongst other principal officers of the local government council.

Erstwhile chairmen of Emohua LGA, Eze Paul Wokhe Wonodi (PDP caucus leader), Barr Emma Wonodi and Hon John Wokoma, former CMD UPTH, Prof Aaron Ojule, former commissioners, Chinedu Tasie Nwobueze and Emenike Eke were among political leaders who attended the ceremony held at the headquarters of the local government area in Emohua.