Appeal Courts grow but budget is either static or decreasing
Maduako Igbokwe l Thursday, February 06, 2020
ONITSHA, Anambra, Nigeria – President, Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa has said that poor funding of Court of Appeal hampered ability to dispense cases at the appellate level. Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa made the revelation while inaugurating the Awka Division of the Court of Appeal, Anambra state.
Bulkachuwa however said that though, the number of divisions of the Court of Appeals in the country had increased over the years, but budget for it had either been static or declining.
“The increased demand of the Court Appeal which had seen it grow from 3 in 1976 to 16 in 2011 was a demonstration of faith in that arm of the court as crucial in the development of the nation’s judicial system” she added.
She commended the Anambra state government for seeing to the successful completion of the project, while assuring that those who come to the court would go back home satisfied that justice had not been done but that it must be manifestly seen to have been done.
“The opening of this court is a milestone in this country for the Court of Appeal in particular and the Judiciary in general. It is an epoch making event which should gladden the heart of everybody. The current trend in the justice management system is anchored on probity, accountability, ethics ,good dispensation of justice and bringing justice closer to the people, but bringing it close to the people has posed a great challenge to the entire judiciary.
For instance, the court has been growing in number from three in 1976 to five in 1977, to 10 in 1999 and 16 divisions in 2011 but it might surprise you that while the number was increasing, the budget envelope is either static or decreasing.
“It is our expectation that this situation will improve to increase judicial service delivery in the country.
Your excellency, the governor and people of Anambra, it is my fervent hope and prayer that after the commissioning this court, it will be possible for us to operate under a peaceful and conducive atmosphere to do our duties to all and sundry without fear or favour ,” she said.
In his speech, Governor of Anambra state Willie Obiano described the Court of Appeal in Anambra as a child of necessity.
He said, he was happy to have the 18th division of the Court of Appeal inaugurated in Anambra during his time. Obiano said a large expanse of land had been earmarked for the construction of permanent projects of the Court in the state. According to him, lawyers from the state would no longer travel to Enugu for appellate determination of their matters.
In his welcome address,Acting Chief Judge of Anambra state, Justice Onochie Anyachebelu, said the establishment of the Court of Appeal in the state was overdue. According to Anyachebelu statistics shows that over 60 per cent of cases in Enugu division of the Court were appeals from Anambra state
He thanked the Court of Appeal for empaneling a team of three judges to kick start the Awka division,but stated that with the number of cases being churned out in Anambra, two panels of five judges would be adequate to treat them.
He commended Obiano for giving judiciary a pride of place in his government and his respect of rule of law while pledging a robust relationship with judges of the Court of Appeal.
