Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra said that judiciary workers in the state would soon call off their ongoing strike, following the state government’s efforts to resolve the crisis.
Obiano gave the assurance on Sunday in Awka, while declaring open the maiden Annual Bar Week/Dinner and awards night, organised by the Anaocha branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the state chapter of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) embarked on a strike on Sept. 7 to press for the implementation of Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure (CONJUSS).
Obiano, who was represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Legal Matters, Mrs Vera Okonkwo, urged the lawyers to work hard to ensure that the rights of common man were not trampled upon.
In his remarks, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Peter Umeadi, enjoined judges to read widely, carry out researches and adopt the use of Information Technology so as to make their judgments sound and interesting.
The chief judge, who chaired the occasion, stressed that a judge should never be in doubt as to the facts of a case and the justice of it.
He also advised lawyers to embrace the use of appropriate legal theories and jurisprudence in their work which, he said, was the norm of good legal practice.
Umeadi commended the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, for his synergy with the NBA on the implementation of stamp and seal policy.
He, however, noted that a lot of new cases filed by lawyers and some Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) failed to meet the new stamp and seal policy requirement.
The chief judge assured the NBA of his readiness to implement the stamp and seal policy in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference is “Nigeria’s Self-Inflicted Judicial Wounds: The Calamitous Consequence of Legal Practice and the Stabilising Guidance of Legal Theory’’.
In a lecture delivered on the theme, Prof. Race Achara, a former Dean of Law, Enugu State University of Technology, Enugu, said that the legal profession in Nigeria was currently facing some challenges.
He said that for instance, lawyers’ demand notices were no longer respected.
“Worst of all is the confusing judgments of courts in the country and the attitude of judges throwing out cases for technical reasons.
“These tend to tarnish the people’s respect for the judicial system,’’ Achara said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NBA branch, Mr Chris Adimora, proposed a joint retreat among the three arms of government to fashion out practical ways of solving the perceptible legal challenges. (NAN)
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