Enugu State: 'We are currently digitizing and digitalizing our court processes and procedures' - Governor Mbah

Executive Governor of Enugu State, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, has announced, the Southeastern State is "currently digitizing and digitalizing our court processes and procedures".

Governor of Enugu State, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, inaugurates newly reconstituted Enugu State Judicial Service Commission, as well as the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy. Photo: @PNMbah

He also announced "I inaugurated the newly reconstituted Enugu State Judicial Service Commission, as well as the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy" on Wednesday 3 July, 2024.

According to Governor Mbah: "Yesterday, I inaugurated the newly reconstituted Enugu State Judicial Service Commission, as well as the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.

The Judicial Service Commission is responsible for ensuring the welfare of judicial officers as well as overseeing their employment. In my remarks, I referred to my one-year anniversary address to Ndi Enugu, in which I outlined a number of reforms and steps we have taken in the judiciary. The reforms are part of our drive to grow our economy, as the enforcement of contract is one of the indicators of the ease of doing business. However, this would not be possible without a functioning legal system.

We are currently digitizing and digitalizing our court processes and procedures. Our efforts to have our court procedures reported verbatim is at an advanced level. This will eliminate the burden of longhand reporting, allowing our judges to be more effective. We are also establishing specialized courts in the state to expedite access to justice. So, this is a very important commission, and we have taken great care in selecting the individuals who will serve on it. 

The Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy's primary function is to review applications for clemency and advise the governor with recommendations. The Enugu Correctional Centre, which was built to accommodate slightly more than 650 inmates, today has over 2000 inmates, with more than 80% of them awaiting trial. This is not acceptable.

"We hope that the decisions and indeed reviews of the Council will not be taken lightly. They would have to be done with a deep sense of duty and also be guided by the objective guidelines while reviewing each case. We expect each case to be examined on its merits, not driven by any subjective motive, because at the end of the day, we must ensure that we continue to live in a safe society while decongesting our prison.

The members of the State Judicial Commission are the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Ozoemena Afojulu (Chairman), the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, and the President of Enugu State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Chibueze Nnamani. Others are Justice Reuben Onuora (Rtd.), Prof. Andrew Chukwumerie (SAN), Hon. Gabriel Agbo, and Dr. Udechukwu Ezeh.

The seven-member Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy has the state’s Attorney General as the statutory Chairman, Barr. Seth Nwokolo as Secretary, and Dr. Rita Emeh as member. The Nigeria Correctional Service, Carmelite Prisoners Interest Organisation (CAPIO), and the Catholic Institute for Development Justice and Peace (CIDJAP) also have a representative each."