IMO GETS FIRST FEMALE CHIEF JUDGE AS JUSTICE NNADI RETIRES

The Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice Paschal Nnadi, has bowed out of service after attaining the mandatory age of retirement.

In a valedictory court session organized in his honour in owerri, Justice Nnadi thanked the people for their cooperation since he assumed office in 2014. Justice Nnadi stressed that he had fought a good fight, kept the faith of love for God and humanity, which helped him to finish the race on the judicial bench.

Imo State Governor, Chief Hope Uzodinma, at the event described the former Chief Judge as an upright judge, who served the state meritoriously. Chief Uzodinma commended the judiciary for dispensing justice without fear or favor, which made it the last hope of a common man. Governor Uzodinma used the occasion to announce the appointment of Justice Paschal Nnadi as the Chief Technical Adviser to the government on Judicial matters and Internally Generated Revenue.

In the meantime, Governor Uzodinma has sworn in Justice Ijeoma Agugua as Acting Chief Judge of the state, making her the first female judge to assume the office. The ceremony took place at Sam Mbakwe Exco Chambers Government House Owerri.

Governor Uzodinma, who described the judiciary as an important arm of the government, said there was the need to strengthen the system for greater efficiency He noted that the state judiciary under his administration would enjoy autonomy as enshrined in the constitution. The Governor challenged the new Acting Chief Judge to improve on the achievements recorded by her predecessor.

The Acting Chief Judge, Justice Agugua, vowed to continue to discharge her duties without fear or favour. Justice Agugua said she would build a strong and virile judiciary that would be committed to speedy dispensation of justice. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Dr. Batos Nwadike, and a female lawyer, Mrs. Chioma Iwueze, from the state Ministry of Justice,   commended Chief Uzodinma for appointing justice Agugua into the office, describing him as gender sensitive.

The event had in attendance top government functionaries and Chief Judges from Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi states.

CHUKWUKA AGUKWE