Retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Mary Peter Odili, has said that Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has written his name in gold with the quality of his physical projects in Imo and the reforms he has initiated in the State’s judiciary.
Justice Odili, spoke on Friday at the Concorde Hotel, Owerri, while unveiling and presenting the Imo State Law Reports (2004- 2022), the first to be published in the history of Imo State.
Speaking during the event, an elated Justice Odili, who was the Guest of Honour/Unveiler of the Imo State Law Reports (2004- 2022), said that she was not only unveiling the reports but Governor Uzodimma and his legacy projects.
“We are unveiling Chief Hope Uzodimma and his legacy projects in Imo State, both in infrastructure and the legal profession. He has done that which has been left unattended for more than 20 years.
“I don’t think our Governor knew what he was doing when he authorised that a committee be set up to embark on this law reports project. Therefore, we are not just unveiling the reports but unveiling Hope Uzodimma and encouraging him to do more”, Justice Odili said.
She further added: “This great man has silently put in place historic infrastructures and has done that which has been left unattended in more than 20 years”.
“Mr. Governor, God will bless you. God have blessed you my Governor and will continue to bless you.
“By embarking on this law report, showing the hard work of the judges of Imo State and the work of lawyers in Imo State, it will encourage them to work extra hard knowing that their labour will not be forgotten”.
Justice Odili harped in the benefits of the Law Reports to the State and the judiciary as a whole, noting that judges, both serving and retired, as well as legal practitioners, would find them handy as they go about plying their trade.
According to her, the reports are veritable resource materials that children yet unborn in Imo State who desire to study law will be glad to behold just as the judges whose works were captured therein will be glad to reflect on their activities.
“It is also a way of documenting the hard work of the judges and generally, the lawyers of Imo State,” she said, noting that there will also be something to learn from reports whose cases were lost in the courts”, she stressed.
She encouraged all the legal practitioners and members of the public to get copies of the reports.
In his remarks, Governor Uzodimma said his desire to see the Imo State judiciary function in a contemporary world with all the necessary reforms informed his decision to direct that the ministry put the Law Reports together.
He expressed delight over the outcome, describing it as a feat the judiciary ought to be happy about.
The Governor reminded the audience that on assumption of office in 2020, his administration was determined to embark on programmes and projects that would add value to society and enhance the quality of life of the citizenry.
He reassured the Judiciary that the 3R mantra of the Shared Prosperity Government will continue to reconstruct, rehabilitate and recover the dignity of the Justice sector in the State.
Uzodimma, however, challenged the Ministry of Justice of the State to go beyond their expectations of having Law Reports that are in hard copies and work towards migrating them to the soft copy, bearing in mind that the New World is digital.
Speaking earlier, Justice Teresa Chikeka commended the Governor for being supportive of the judiciary and making the unveiling of the state’s 20-year Law reports a possibility. She also recommended law reports for lawyers and aspiring judges.
Others present at the unveiling which was held at Imo Concord Hotels, Owerri include the Deputy Governor, Professor Placid Njoku, Attorney General, COC Akaolisa, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Mike Ahamba SAN, Deputy Speaker Imo House of Assembly, Rt Hon Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu and a host of Government appointees, lawyers, judges, and traditional leaders.