Gov Ugwuanyi Swears In Justice Ozoemena As Acting Chief Judge

Sequel to the retirement of Justice Ngozi Priscilla Emehelu as chief judge of Enugu State, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Wednesday, swore in Justice Afojulu Raymond Ozoemena as the acting chief judge of the state.

During the event, Gov Ugwuanyi said the decision was based on the order of seniority of the judges of Enugu High Court as confirmed by the National Judicial Council (NJC) via its letter Ref. No. NJC/S.14/HC.EN/9/1/228 dated September 1, 2021.

According to him, the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended, did not contemplate that vacancy should exist in the office of the chief judge of a state given the sensitivity of the office and its functions.

Section 271, sub-section 4 of the Constitution, empowers the governor of a state to appoint the most senior judge of the High Court to perform the functions of a chief judge of a state if vacancy occurs in the position until a person has been appointed and assumed the functions of that office, Gov Ugwuanyi said.

He congratulated Justice Ozoemena on the appointment, and expressed confidence that he would bring his experience to bear in the administration of the state judiciary.

Justice Ozoemena responded that, “I am personally influenced by what Justice Emehelu did; the way she was mothering all of us; we regarded her as a mommy in the state judiciary.”

He urged the judges and other officials of the judiciary to accord him the same support they accorded his predecessor.