The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Enugu State, Dr Kingsley Udeh, says the Peter Mbah-led administration has initiated positive reforms in the judiciary to ensure speedy dispensation of justice in the state.
Dr. Udeh who spoke with Journalists in Enugu listed some of the measures to include digitalisation of court filing process, virtual court sitting, as well introduction of Witness Support Fund.
He disclosed that the ministry prosecutes over 100 criminal case files every month adding that criminal trial of Mr. Sunday Echeji, who cut off the hand of his wife, Mrs. Chinonso Echeji
and that of the suspected killer of the popular musician, Mr. Okezie Mba, popularly known as Igbo Jah, would start within the next two weeks.
According to him, Ministry of Justice has qualified and competent lawyers to prosecute both cases efficiently.
“His Excellency the governor has approved what we called Witness Support Fund, money earmarked for calling witnesses, especially in the criminal case.
“It was one of the things that stalled quick dispensation of justice before the current administration.
“You know that criminal prosecution is done by the state. You know that the government is not the victim or complainant in the case, and we call witnesses.
“Before now, no money is assigned to the prosecutor for calling witnesses. You may be asking if the witnesses are paid to come to the court. We don’t pay them, but we provide them with logistics.
“So if you are calling a Pathologist for come and give an expert evidence as expert witness, they wouldn’t come until you give them money not to pay them but their logistics,” the Attorney-General said.
According to the Attorney General, the state government’s initiatives in the justice system has drastically reduced number of awaiting trial inmates thereby contributing to decongestion of the correctional centres in the state.
Udeh announced that the Supreme Court has granted Enugu State full ownership of the Hotel Presidential, which, according to him, ended all litigations which had placed previously encumbered revamping of the hotel.
“Criminals were using Hotel Presidential as hideout because it was a massive structure, no security there, so criminals were having a field day there”.
“The court ordered us to go there and put the place in order and pursue criminals out, because it has become a security threat. So we did that and started putting things in order.
