Ritual Money War: Soludo Urges Judiciary to Tighten Legal Framework to Save Anambra from Criminals

By Praise Chinecherem

Anambra state Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo has charged State Judiciary to tighten legal framework in the war against Okeite and Ezenwanyi practices to save the state from the hands of criminals.

Soludo gave the charge at the 88th birthday anniversary of a former State Chief Judge, Justice Godwin Ude Ononiba and presentation of a book titled” Wisdom On The Bench” The Enduring Legacies of Justice Godwin Ononiba.

Describing Justice Ononiba as an institution, the governor observed that the book, “Wisdom On The Bench” would give people necessary insight into the course of the celebrant’s legal journey and backgrounds.

He noted that the judiciary, as the last hope of the common man in the society, can make or mar, urging members of the bench and bar in Nigeria to work towards justifying the confidence reposed in them, so that Nigeria will continue to advance in all ramifications.

“Without Judiciary, Nigeria would have degenerated to nothingness. With politicians, everything is visible, but with the Judiciary drawing them back gradually by reminding them not to be too fast, Nigeria will regain all it’s loss glories again”,he said.

While calling on the Judiciary not to relent on her onerous tasks in the society,the Governor remarked that without the Judiciary the society would have been without form, pointing out that he is celebrating the Judiciary, particularly the Anambra State Judiciary.

“I came to understand that Anambra State have the most hardworking Judges in Nigeria today with the highest number of cases after Lagos State, the number of cases they dispense every week and every month were some of the highest in the world.

*I am pleading with them to tighten their machineries in the on-going corrosive war against Okite and Ezenwanyi practice in the state to restore a lasting peace in all corners of Anambra State”, the Governor added .

He was of the opinion that Anambra state Judges are doing fantastically well and advised them to follow the foot steps of the celebrant in order not to go wrong when it comes to quick dispensation of justice without fear.

Declaring the event open earlier, Chairman of the occasion, retired Justice Anthony Ikechukwu Igwu of the Supreme Court, Abuja, described the event as very important one, adding that he grew together with the celebrant and that he had remained his best friend for a very long time,wishing all who graced the event his highest warm regards as well as the celebrant.

Reading the brief resume of the celebrant in the course of the event with the title,”Legacy Of Integrity and Leadership,a former Anambra State Commissioner for Land,Chief Peter Afuba (SAN),remarked that retired Justice Ononiba had remained a towering figure not only in Anambra State Judiciary,but the entire Nigerian legal system.

He emphasized that the celebrant was born on 1937 to achieve extra ordinary feats, stating that his legal career was defined as excellence and fearless enforcer of justice when he was on the bench.

Presenting the book with the tittle”, Wisdom On The Bench”,The Enduring Legacies of Justice Godwin Ononiba, a former Vice- Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University,Awka, Professor Ilochi Okafor, described the celebrant as a legal colossus and a man of many definitions who according to him accommodates all who appeared to him, especially the young lawyers.

Professor Okafor,who explained that the book has fourteen chapters with six hundred and twenty-seven pages and thirteen parts,recommend the book to Nigerian Judges, lawyers and law students as well as the entire general public for them , to be fully acquainted with the life and legal career of the celebrant and his few selected judgements while on the bench.

In their separate goodwill messages, Professor Elochukwu Amucheazi of Igbo Leaders of Thought,an age long family friend of the celebrant,Dr Gag Menakaya and retired Justice Chinwe Iyizoba ,said that the celebrant left indelible mark not only in Anambra State Judiciary as a retied Chief Judge ,but also in Nigeria through his well known fearless work ethics as a man of impeccable and remarkable character worthy of emulation by all.

Anambra State Chief Judge, Justice Onuchie Anyachebelu alongside twenty-Nine Judges of the state both serving and retired, over thirteen Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Anambra State extraction and the Traditional Ruler of Nimo,Igwe Ike Oliobi and his cabinet members were all in attendance to celebrate with their own.

In a vote of thanks, the first daughter of the celebrant, Justice Irene Ndigwe (Nee Ononiba), expressed heartfelt gratitude to all who made the event a huge success, describing her father as a beacon of hope to many around him whom she said dedicated his life to upholding justice and ethical values.

The book,”Wisdom On The Bench:The Enduring Legacies of retired Justice Godwin Ononiba ,was unveiled by Chief Emeka Etiaba (SAN) while launching of the book by the friends and well wishes of the Ononiba family from far and near, including Governor Soludo and cutting of the birth cake by the celebrant,his children among others, added glamour to the event.