The President of the Nigeria Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, on Wednesday commissioned the Anambra State division of the Court of Appeal in Awka, the state capital.

News Express reports that the process for building the appellate court in the state was instituted by former Governor Peter Obi’s administration.

Speaking at the event, Justice Bulkachuwa commended the state government and all the stakeholders who contributed in various ways to make the project a reality.

She said that the citing of the court in the state was long overdue adding that despite the achievements of the court, there were some challenges they still faced in the course of discharging their duty.

She expressed regret that while justice is being brought closer to the people in order to stem the tide of delay suffered as a result of congestion of cases in some divisions of the court, the court’s budget has remained static and decreasing in the corresponding period.

Said she: “Current trends in the justice management system are focused on ethics, probity, accountability and best practices of judicial officers on the one hand, and quick dispensation of justice and bringing justice closer to the people on the other hand.

“The quick dispensation of justice and bringing justice closer to the people has posed a great challenge to the court as well as to the entire judiciary.

“We believe that the situation will improve; and change in that direction so as to guarantee a more efficient judiciary now and in the future.”

While commending the growth of the upper court in the country, the Appeal court president recalled that the upper court on inception in 1976 started with only three divisions, later expanded to five divisions in 1977, ten divisions in 1999 and then sixteen divisions in 2011.

Giving insight on the establishment of the Appeal Court, the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr Peter Afuba, said that the application for the establishment of the court in Awka was done during his time in office under former Governor Peter Obi’s administration.

According to him, the former Governor attracted the establishment of a Federal High Court and Customary Court of Appeal in Awka.

While hailing the Appeal Courts’ President for formally commissioning the court, he also commended former Governor Obi for his foresight in initiating the process.

He lauded the incumbent Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, for building on the foundation laid by his predecessor by ensuring that the project was actualised.

Aruba also hailed the current Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Uju Nworgu, and all those who contributed to ensure that the Appeal Court project became a reality after meeting all the conditions set by President of the Court of Appeal.