Governor Udom Emmanuel has lauded the judiciary in Akwa Ibom State for maintaining a clean record of integrity and professionalism which has brought a good image to the state over the years.
Governor Emmanuel stated this while swearing in Justice Godwin Abraham as the new state Chief Judge at the government house in Uyo.
He saluted all previous heads of the judiciary in the state for steering the ship with utmost credibility, maintaining that, “the judiciary in this state is completely out of scandal, it has never happened. This we hear in other places but in our state, the level of professionalism and integrity of the judiciary have been upheld over time.
He commended Justice Abraham on his emergence as the 7th substantive Chief Judge of the state, describing him as an extraordinary talented legal luminary.
Governor Emmanuel lauded Justice Abraham’s steadfastness to the rule of law and sense of patriotism to the Akwa Ibom project, maintaining that, “I have never heard that anybody ever influenced Justice Abraham anywhere.”
He told the Judiciary boss of his desire to sustain the cordial relationship between the executive and the judiciary, describing the judiciary as an important pillar of democracy.
The Governor maintaned that his government will continue to pay premium to the people and consider their interest in every action it takes.
He described the elevation as a reward for hardwork and sincerity which did not come about by man’s influence but through God’s Grace.
The governor sought for partnership of the three arms of government to seek God’s intervention over the state.
“Those in Europe, Asia, America, they don’t have the monopoly of God, what God has done over the years in their own land, He will also do in the land Africa, beginning from Akwa Ibom,” he said in a ceremony witnessed by the Deputy Governor Moses Ekpo, the Speaker of the House of Assembly Onofiok Luke, the Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio,
and other top government functionaries.
Speaking with journalists after the exercise, Justice Abraham pledged to ensure that the rule of law prevails, in addition to speedy trials, maintenance of integrity and development of infrastructure.
Justice Abraham posited that democracy thrives in peaceful environments, and therefore urged people to be law abiding so as to allow peace to reign.
The new chief judge also expressed his readiness to introduce electronic processes in the recording of proceedings in court, explaining that asides speedily dispensation of justices, it also reduces the stress on the judges.
Born in 1957 in Ediene Ikot Ebon, Oruk Anam local government area, he obtained his law degree in the University of Calabar before attending the Nigerian Law School.
He was a magistrate in the state judiciary for 13 years until June 2000 when he assumed office as a judge of the state judiciary, his last post being administrative judge of the Uyo Judicial commission.
