Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has disclosed that he inherited a disjointed judiciary burdened by debts when he assumed office. Speaking during a phone-in programme in Owerri on Tuesday evening, the governor highlighted the challenges his administration faced in addressing the judiciary’s issues.

“When I took office, I cleared all the bills weighing down the judiciary,” Uzodimma stated, expressing concern over the circumstances that led to the removal of the state’s former Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Chikeka, by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

The governor assured that the process for appointing a new Chief Judge would involve thorough vetting to avoid similar occurrences. “We are now awaiting communication from the NJC, which will recommend and ratify qualified candidates for the position,” he said.

Uzodimma emphasized the importance of appointing credible and qualified judicial officers, stating, “The judiciary is the hope of the common man. It must be manned by decent and qualified individuals. This time, we will conduct proper security screening to ensure credibility.”

Uzodimma also spoke about the alleged corruption in the state’s Ministry of Lands, which prompted him to take on the role of Commissioner for Lands.

“I noticed a disturbing level of corruption in the ministry. How can one individual own 50 parcels of land while others cannot even secure one?” the governor questioned.

He revealed plans to begin screening Certificates of Occupancy to ensure lands are allocated to rightful owners. “We are computerizing the process to trace and rectify irregularities, ensuring fairness and transparency in land allocation,” Uzodimma added.

The governor reiterated his commitment to tackling systemic issues in the judiciary and public administration, ensuring accountability and restoring public trust in the state’s institutions.