Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State on Thursday, October 21, 2021, swore in a new Acting Chief Judge of Imo State, Hon. Justice Theresa Eberechukwu Chukwuemeka Chikeka, at the Government House, Owerri, charging her to see the appointment as a solemn call to duty.
The Governor, while performing the exercise noted that the appointment of the new Acting Chief Judge “does not in any way signal the demotion or undue elevation of any member of the Bench – It is part of the continuing commitment to the procedural process in the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge of Imo State. Both members of the Bench and Bar are all aware of this processes.”
Uzodinma said the appointment was a step towards strengthening the State’s Judiciary.
According to the governor, ”It is on that premise that I charge both members of the Bench and Bar to see the appointment of Honourable Justice Theresa Eberechukwu Chukwuemeka Chikeka as the acting Chief Judge of the State as a necessary step towards making Imo State judiciary stronger,” said the Governor.”
While calling on the new Acting Chief Judge to see her appointment as “a solemn call to duty”, he said that “It is a call to an exemplary leadership that will inspire and unite the Bench and the Bar.”
”Let me make it clear that the appointment of a new acting Chief Judge is part of efforts of government to fine-tune the operations of the judiciary and encourage capacity building in the discharge of its constitutional role as the third tier of government. It is also part of the continuing commitment to the procedural process in the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge of the State.”
He said it does not in any way signal the demotion or undue elevation of any member of the Bench. Both members of the Bench and Bar are all aware of this processes.
“For this government that is the product of a democratic order – It is incumbent upon us to defend the constitution in all its ramifications. It is also our duty to encourage the judiciary being the last hope of the common man to preserve and shield itself from abuse and divisiveness because any bastardization of the institution will erode the confidence of the people with a serious consequence on the survival of our democracy.”
