By Sylvia Akpan, Government House Correspondent
The Executive Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Edet Otu on August 9, 2023, issued official vehicles to High Court Judges and plans a walking tour to courts in the State to carry out renovation and upgrade of facilities in line with the current realities.
Otu expressed dissatisfaction over the hardship Judges are faced with and assured them of changing the narratives.
“A few weeks ago when my Lord the Chief Judge led a team of upper benchers to my office, the issue of transportation was mentioned to me, alongside a plethora of other problems that are inherent in the judiciary, I am glad and bold today to say that the season of sweetness has started with the Judiciary at this moment.
“I do so because this is an important arm of government that we should not joke with. In any society where there is no justice, such a society cannot move forward and investment cannot thrive where people don’t trust the justice system.”
While acknowledging the vital role the Judiciary play, he said his government will take special interest in them.
“This particular arm of government is one my administration will take special interest in because we are bringing investors across the globe to invest in our economy and for them to have the confidence of investing here, we must demonstrate to them that there is a just and fair society where if rules are breached, punishment follows immediately.
“Once they understand the existence of this equality before the law and that justice can be dispensed without any fear or favor, then you can rest assured that the economy will thrive.”
On the physical decay observed in other institutions of government, he assured that his team is looking into the fabrics of the service and will tackle the challenges confronting other institutions of government based on the State’s financial power.
The Chief Judge of the State, Justice Akon Ikpeme, decried the hardship Judges have gone through over the years, describing Otu as a perfect gentleman and promised keeper.
She averred that “the Judges have been using their cars to discharge their day-to-day assignment, admitting that this gesture will go a long way to check their transportation challenges.”
One of the beneficiaries, Justice Edem Koofreh, lauded the governor for the gesture and promised that his team would make judicious use of the official vehicles afforded them.
The presentation of the Ford Edge vehicles was done at the Governor’s office, Dan Archibong Lodge and it had in attendance, the House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Elvert Ayambem; the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh; Chief of Staff, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar; Head of Service, Dr. Timothy Akwaji, and others.
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