Okowa Announces Full Autonomy For Delta Judiciary

The Delta Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, on Tuesday said that the
Judiciary in the state had been accorded full autonomy in line with
the law.

Mr Okowa said this in Asaba on Tuesday when he received the
chief judge of the state, Marshal Umukoro, who came with other
judges in the state’s judiciary to the Government House to intimate
the governor of his impending retirement.

According to him, with the signing of Judiciary Autonomy law in
January 2021 and the setting up of the relevant committees by the
chief judge, the state is ready to begin the process of
implementing full autonomy for the judiciary.

The governor said the House of Assembly in the state had been
enjoying autonomy for two years ago even when some states were yet
to start the process till date.

“I have never been against it, and that’s why we went ahead to
push for the law. The House of Assembly has been operating its own
autonomy since two years even before they started talking about it
in this country,” he said.

“It has worked; I have not found any reason to regret that
action. So, I believe too that there is no reason why the judiciary
cannot run its own autonomy.

“I do also believe that it does not stop the arms of government
from relating with each other.

“The budgets are made on a yearly basis and the only challenge
is that many times we are unable to fund it in full. However, what
will be released on a monthly basis will be subject to the returns
that come from Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC),” he
said.

Mr Okowa’s decision comes as judicial workers across the country
continue their industrial action demanding full autonomy for the
judiciary in the states.

He explained that with the commencement of the full process, the
chief judge had been empowered to effect his own direct approvals
without having to resort to the governor.

“I am very happy to do that because it reduces the number of
files on my table. So, I want to announce the full autonomy of the
judiciary with the setting up of the committees.

“I am not doing this for any gains. I believe that it’s right
and just; I believe too that it’s in the best interest of
governance in our nation and that’s how we have also thought about
it in the House of Assembly.

“I want to generally advise that autonomy does not stop
governance from progressing; in fact, it helps governance and I
believe that it is something worth doing,’’ Mr Okowa said.

He thanked judges in the state for their role in ensuring
delivery of justice.

“So my Lord, the Chief Judge, I want to congratulate you for
setting up the committee.

“Apart from the files that are expected to come to my office, I
will advise that no further files should be sent because you are
now expected to approve your files by yourself because that’s the
process of the autonomy.

“We thank God that whatever that has a beginning has an end, and
I am glad that you have worked so hard to improve on the judicial
process in the state.

“I truly appreciate your service to the state and the
relationship you kept with the executive arm of government and my
family. It was God who made it possible for you to conduct my
inauguration in 2015 and 2019.

“The judiciary in Delta has continued to walk tall and what I
hear happening in other states, I never witnessed it here.

“I have never had cause to worry here and I must thank the Chief
Judge and all his brother judges for their cooperation.

“It is my prayer and hope that God will continue to be with you
in the course of your retirement,” the governor stated.

Earlier, Justice Umukoro had said that he led the judges to
visit the governor as part of the valedictory activities leading to
his disengagement as a judicial officer and head of the judicial
arm of government in Delta.

He expressed appreciation to Governor Okowa for his support to
him since he became the helmsman of the judiciary in 2015.

“Since I came on board six years ago, you treated me as a
brother and I am grateful for your support even during the death of
my wife.

“As Chief Judge of Delta, I can confidently say that we have
never had any crisis and we have been able to manage ourselves
effectively.

“I am here to deeply appreciate you for supporting me throughout
my tenure as Chief Judge of the State and to also thank you for
approving the process for the implementation of full autonomy for
the state judiciary,” he stated.

The Delta Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, on Tuesday said that the
Judiciary in the state had been accorded full autonomy in line with
the law.

Mr Okowa said this in Asaba on Tuesday when he received the
chief judge of the state, Marshal Umukoro, who came with other
judges in the state’s judiciary to the Government House to intimate
the governor of his impending retirement.

According to him, with the signing of Judiciary Autonomy law in
January 2021 and the setting up of the relevant committees by the
chief judge, the state is ready to begin the process of
implementing full autonomy for the judiciary.

The governor said the House of Assembly in the state had been
enjoying autonomy for two years ago even when some states were yet
to start the process till date.

“I have never been against it, and that’s why we went ahead to
push for the law. The House of Assembly has been operating its own
autonomy since two years even before they started talking about it
in this country,” he said.

“It has worked; I have not found any reason to regret that
action. So, I believe too that there is no reason why the judiciary
cannot run its own autonomy.

“I do also believe that it does not stop the arms of government
from relating with each other.

“The budgets are made on a yearly basis and the only challenge
is that many times we are unable to fund it in full. However, what
will be released on a monthly basis will be subject to the returns
that come from Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC),” he
said.

Mr Okowa’s decision comes as judicial workers across the country
continue their industrial action demanding full autonomy for the
judiciary in the states.

He explained that with the commencement of the full process, the
chief judge had been empowered to effect his own direct approvals
without having to resort to the governor.

“I am very happy to do that because it reduces the number of
files on my table. So, I want to announce the full autonomy of the
judiciary with the setting up of the committees.

“I am not doing this for any gains. I believe that it’s right
and just; I believe too that it’s in the best interest of
governance in our nation and that’s how we have also thought about
it in the House of Assembly.

“I want to generally advise that autonomy does not stop
governance from progressing; in fact, it helps governance and I
believe that it is something worth doing,’’ Mr Okowa said.

He thanked judges in the state for their role in ensuring
delivery of justice.

“So my Lord, the Chief Judge, I want to congratulate you for
setting up the committee.

“Apart from the files that are expected to come to my office, I
will advise that no further files should be sent because you are
now expected to approve your files by yourself because that’s the
process of the autonomy.

“We thank God that whatever that has a beginning has an end, and
I am glad that you have worked so hard to improve on the judicial
process in the state.

“I truly appreciate your service to the state and the
relationship you kept with the executive arm of government and my
family. It was God who made it possible for you to conduct my
inauguration in 2015 and 2019.

“The judiciary in Delta has continued to walk tall and what I
hear happening in other states, I never witnessed it here.

“I have never had cause to worry here and I must thank the Chief
Judge and all his brother judges for their cooperation.

“It is my prayer and hope that God will continue to be with you
in the course of your retirement,” the governor stated.

Earlier, Justice Umukoro had said that he led the judges to
visit the governor as part of the valedictory activities leading to
his disengagement as a judicial officer and head of the judicial
arm of government in Delta.

He expressed appreciation to Governor Okowa for his support to
him since he became the helmsman of the judiciary in 2015.

“Since I came on board six years ago, you treated me as a
brother and I am grateful for your support even during the death of
my wife.

“As Chief Judge of Delta, I can confidently say that we have
never had any crisis and we have been able to manage ourselves
effectively.

“I am here to deeply appreciate you for supporting me throughout
my tenure as Chief Judge of the State and to also thank you for
approving the process for the implementation of full autonomy for
the state judiciary,” he stated.