OKOI OBONO-OBLA
The centrality of the judicial branch of government cannot be overemphasized. It is the arm of government entrusted with the responsibility of settling disputes among the citizenry, ensuring peace, law, and harmony in society, and protecting the fundamental human rights of the people. Most importantly, it serves as the bulwark between the executive and legislative branches of government—maintaining tranquility and ensuring that neither crosses its constitutional boundaries.
The Cross River State Judiciary is one of the oldest in the country, founded nearly 58 years ago when the defunct South Eastern State was carved out of the former Eastern Nigeria.
After a long hiatus from legal practice, I resumed in 2024 and have since attended court sessions in Ugep and Calabar. What I encountered in these courts was deeply depressing: derelict courtrooms, poor furniture, and dirty, unkempt, and undignified surroundings.
Eight years ago, I took it upon myself to build a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ugep to replace the one that had been gutted by fire many years earlier—a facility the government had refused to rebuild. I completed the structure around 2018, leaving only painting and furnishing, which I rightly believed the government should have handled. Disappointingly, nearly six years down the line, nothing has been done. The government has bluntly refused to acknowledge the selflessness that went into constructing a new Chief Magistrate’s Court complex for my community.
I therefore, urge the dynamic administration of Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu to extend his commendable efforts to rebuilding the State—which he inherited in a very sorry condition—to also include the judiciary branch of government. The judiciary must not be neglected. It is the soul of justice, the guardian of rights, and the anchor of democratic governance. A society that ignores its courts is one that invites disorder and injustice.
Let us restore dignity to our courts. Let us respect the rule of law. Let us rebuild the judiciary.
@ Okoi Obono-Obla
