by crossriverwatch admin
For six years, all the government audit reports adopted by the Cross River State House of Assembly are yet to be implemented by the executive.
The Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Jacob Otu Enyia disclosed this during the confirmation of the State Chief Judge by the House.
He said there is a need for a designated court known as public fund and property recovery court to assist government in implementing such reports.
According to Hon. Jacob, PDP Boki 2 State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, “The State House has been shouting of accountability, probity and yet in all the government audit report adopted by the House, none has been implemented for the past six years I have been in this assembly. If there is a court designated to do this, it will assist government particularly the legislature. This is a candid appeal to the new Chief Judge.” He said.
On the establishment of the Customary Court of Appeal in the State, the lawmaker said “Customary Court of Appeal in Cross River State will have impact on the environment; it will create employment for the teeming young lawyers and create a conducive atmosphere in the administration of the judicial system in the state”.
Hon. Agbiji Agbiji, PDP Ikom 1 state constituency and Hon. Saviour Nyong, PDP Bakassi state constituency said if the new chief judge can pursue the establishment of the two courts in quick succession, it will make the administration of justice in the state more effective and end the era of impunity in the system.
They both argued that a situation where people who have mismanaged the state resources work freely with impunity is unacceptable because according to them, nothing has been done, nothing is being done and from the look of things, nothing is likely to be done and this will have negative effects on the sustainability of our democracy.