Access to justice is a fundamental right that every citizen is entitled to.  However, in many states across the federation, the justice system is often overwhelmed, with cases taking years to resolve.

 In Anambra state, Governor Chukwuma  Soludo has sustained  active measures to address the challenges facing the justice sector.

The governor’s reforms included increasing funding to the sector, increasing  the number of  judges to help in quick dispensation of justice, . improving  the state’s correctional centres with modern  facilities to ensure that inmates receive  necessary rehabilitation and counselling services for effective reformation .The state government is also  building four new high court halls and four judges’ residential quarters.

In keeping with Governor  Soludo’s  promise to  ensure infrastructural development of the judiciary and deployment of technology as well as investment in continuous human capital development in the sector, the Anambra state judiciary is working towards  achieving full automation in the system. This is a project that involves electronic filing of cases, automation of probate, and automation of the ministry of justice.

Anambra state is the first state in the federation to  implement this.

The court reporters have been trained on courtroom technology. There has also been Courtroom transformation solution from paper to paperless, thereby putting an end to writing in long hand on the bench. This will no doubt ensure better health for judicial officers and court staff, as well as engender quality transcripts and audio.

Solar energy has been installed in all the thirty high court rooms and halls in the state and the offices of the state high court judges, to serve as an alternative power supply source to the conventional electricity, towards providing a conducive environment to accelerate delivery of justice and other judicial functions. Solar panels were equally installed at the four correctional centres in the state for improved power supply.

Again,  a specialised commercial court was set up as well as mainstream alternative dispute resolution mechanism to ensure that timelines for commercial dispute resolution are reduced to thirty days from the average of three hundred and seven days. The present government has also established two specialised courts, including Children, Sexual and Gender based violence court as well as Small Claims Court for speedy determination of liquidated money demands of less than five million naira in the state. These courts have ensured easy access to informal and speedy justice delivery systems in the state.

Thanks to Governor Soludo’s interventions, the state’s justice system is fast experiencing varying degrees of reforms, ensuring that justice is accessible and fair to all citizens.

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