By CHARLES IWUOHA

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has announced that his administration will in the next one month commence the construction of one thousand capacity state-of-the-art Judiciary complexes in Aba and Umuahia.

Governor Otti stated this at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Chapel, Umuahia during the thanksgiving service to mark the 2025/2026 Legal Year of the Abia State Judiciary, saying that the new complexes would be fully digitized with high speed Internet connectivity.

The Governor noted that the theme of this year's Legal Year "Reforming Abia State Justice Sector In The Digital Era" is in line with the ongoing transformation in the State Judiciary, adding that he has allowed the Judicial arm to operate without interference from the Executive as reflected in the last employment of Judges in the State.

"I want to also align with the theme of this year's Legal Year, and it speaks directly to the transformation of the judicial sector in a digital era.

"I'm happy to support you in the area of digital transformation. I think I have signed off on a request from the Honourable Attorney General to transform the entire judiciary digitally and begin to move away from the days of carrying files," Gov. Otti stated.

Governor Otti noted that the ongoing construction of 17 new court halls across the 17 LGAS of the State, would soon be commissioned as most of them have been completed while a few of them are at advanced stages of completion.

The State Chief Executive applauded the cordial working relationship existing between the Executive and Judicial arms of Government, assuring that his administration would continue to partner the Judiciary in providing justice for the people.

This was contained in statement issued by the governor's Chief press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha on Thursday and made available to journalists in Umuahia on Friday.

In an address, the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Lilian Abai said that the annual event provides them the opportunity to rededicate themselves to the noble duty of justice and to reaffirm the Judiciary as the lamp that lights the path of fairness and justice.

Justice Abai while stressing the need for urgent reforms in the Judicial system in line with the digital era, noted that with vision, innovation and commitment, the Judiciary can rebuild confidence and restore the speed, fairness and integrity that justice demands.

She thanked the administration of Governor Alex Otti for its numerous supports to the Judiciary and its digital transformation journey.

In his sermon, the Chaplain of Queen Elizabeth Hospital Chapel, The Very Rev. Ernest Onyeukwu challenged the Judiciary to be disturbed by the myriad of problems facing Nigerians including issues in the Judicial system and urged them to uphold values that would make the nation great through their profession.

The Very Rev. Onyeukwu, whose sermon was titled “Are You Not Provoked by Our Present-Day Justice System?” stressed the need for them to

arrest all forms of injustice and harassment meted against citizens, especially the daylight extortions on the road by security operatives.

"Until we reclaim our Judiciary, Nigerians will remain as conquered people," Rev. Onyeukwu stated.

The event attracted the presence of members of the Bar and Bench of the Abia State Judiciary including the President Customary Court of Appeal Justice Okey Nwamoh, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ikechukwu Uwanna (SAN) and host of other Government officials.