Anambra state Judiciary in partnership with RoLAC has inaugurated two
family courts at Onitsha Magistrate Court for adjudication of juvenile
cases.

The state Chief Judge, Justice Onochie Anyachebelu, while
commissioning the complex, commended the contributions of RoLAC
in strengthening and transforming Judiciary administration in the
state.

Justice Anyachebelu, who observed the need for the promotion and
preservation of Child’s Rights Act, called for more commitment to
justice administration in sentencing Child Right offenders .
Earlier in a remark, the state program coordinator, RoLAC, Mrs.
Josephine Onah thanked the state government for the legislative frame
work that has helped to support child criminal justice delivery.
Mrs. Onah pleaded with governments at all levels to establish
children correctional center to help prevent recruitment of children
into adult criminality.

While reminding justice actors of the Violation Against Persons, VAAP,
law and the need to ensure that sexual and gender based violence are
prosecuted under the law, Mrs. Onah harped on the need for statistics
and utilization of data in view of the sharp surge in criminalities.
In a goodwill message, the Attorney General and commissioner for
Justice,Dr. Mrs Uju Nwogu, represented by Mrs. Ndirika Onyekwelu,
advocated the establishment of similar court in other parts of the
state to contend with the juvenile cases.

The chairman, Justice Reform Committee, Justice Peter Obiora, noted
that the actualization of a Correctional Center at Umunze will improve
justice administration in the state while the NBA chairman, Mr.
Ozoemena Erinne described the commissioning as a landmark achievement.
A member of the state Implementation Committee, Miss. Hope Okoye, who
lamented incessant cases of child abuse and violence in the
society, said the commissioning of the family court is a milestone
achievement in addressing and adhering to the tenets of the Child’s
Rights Law.

Correspondent, Odinaka Nwolisa reports that the event featured
inspection of the complex by the state Chief Judge.