The Abia state Judiciary has announced the relocation of a magistrate court in Umuchieze, Umunneochi local government area of the state.
Addressing newsmen in a press conference held in Umuahia, the Abia state capital, the Registrar of Abia Judiciary, Mr. Benson Anya, regretted that the decision was taken after persistent attacks on the court facilities by herdsmen who were alleged to have raped and harassed court officials without provocation.
He said, “I was sent by the acting Chief Judge, Justice Kalu Ogwe to asses the situation and we discovered the heinous activities of the herdsmen, prompting us to relocate the court till further notice.
“Our staff are constantly threatened and raped in most cases. The police is currently investigating the matter”.
The registrar disclosed that the state judiciary has constituted a prison decongestion committee to work with security agencies to reduce the alarming number of awaiting trial inmates in various prison facilities across the state.
“The state acting chief judge thought it wise to intervene by equally speeding up dispensation of justice. We note the handicap of our security officials, but the committee will work out details of the best ways to handle the matter,” he said.
On the crisis which recently rocked the state judiciary Anya said the judiciary was now poised to take a positive journey towards effective justice delivery.
