*Says Law Week Must Produce Practical Reforms For Judiciary And Bar
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Abia State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN, has paid tribute to the Chief Judge of Abia State, Honourable Justice Lilian Abai, describing her as “a jurist of quiet strength, proven competence and deep commitment to the growth of the Abia judiciary,” and disclosing that the state government under Governor Alex Otti, OFR, is implementing a comprehensive justice sector transformation built on three pillars: reform of the law, infusion of technology into the courts, and construction of modern court infrastructure across all 17 local government areas.
Uwanna, who served as Chairman of the 2026 Law Week of the NBA Ohafia Branch, popularly known as “The Warriors Bar,” spoke on Friday, June 19, 2026, at the Chief Umeh Kalu, SAN, Bar Centre. The Law Week was held in honour of Chief Judge Abai under the theme “Preserving the Integrity of the Judiciary: Examining Ways to Maintain Public Trust and Confidence in the Judiciary.”
Uwanna opened by framing the theme within the current national context, stating that it “could not have come at a more critical time.”
“At a moment when citizens are questioning institutions and demanding higher standards of accountability, the judiciary must remain the steady compass that points our democracy in the direction of justice, fairness and the rule of law,” Uwanna stated.
He described the relationship between integrity and public trust in stark terms: “Integrity is the lifeblood of the judicial process, and public trust is the currency that gives legitimacy to judicial decisions. When either is compromised, courtrooms become mere buildings, judgments become suspect, and the public’s willingness to submit to lawful authority is dangerously eroded.”
Uwanna disclosed that the Otti administration has deliberately structured justice sector reform around three key pillars.
The first pillar is reform of the law itself. The Attorney General revealed that executive bills are currently before the Abia State House of Assembly to modernise the state’s criminal law framework. The Administration of Criminal Justice Law is undergoing amendments to make criminal justice administration more effective and efficient. Additionally, the state government has introduced a Restorative Justice Bill that would allow all parties in a criminal matter to “obtain real, practical justice rather than narrow, technical outcomes.”
The introduction of a Restorative Justice Bill is particularly significant. Restorative justice focuses on repairing the harm caused by criminal behaviour through cooperative processes involving victims, offenders, and the community, rather than relying solely on punitive measures. If enacted, Abia would join a small number of Nigerian states that have formally legislated for restorative justice approaches within their criminal justice systems.
The second pillar is the infusion of technology into the courts. Uwanna stated that the administration is providing an electronic platform that will “enhance access to justice, reduce delays, and make the dispensation of justice less cumbersome, while aligning our procedures with 21st-century standards.”
The third pillar is what Uwanna described as “brick and mortar,” the improvement of the physical environment of justice through modern court infrastructure. He disclosed that the model court in Ohafia is now approximately 90 per cent completed and is one of several model courts being constructed across all 17 local government areas, “giving practical expression to the Governor’s commitment to a modern, dignified judiciary.”
Uwanna devoted significant attention to the contributions of Chief Judge Abai, describing her not merely as the head of the Abia judiciary but as “a strong partner in this ongoing transformation of our justice sector.”
He highlighted her recent appointment as a member of the National Judicial Council (NJC), stating that the appointment “underscores the confidence reposed in her across the country.”
Uwanna specifically commended two initiatives undertaken under Chief Judge Abai’s leadership. First, the establishment of Small Claims Courts in the magisterial districts, which he described as “the first of their kind in the South East,” aimed at the speedy resolution of commercial and minor disputes. Small Claims Courts are designed to provide an accessible, affordable, and expeditious mechanism for resolving disputes involving relatively small sums of money, reducing the burden on the regular courts and providing a practical avenue of justice for ordinary citizens and small businesses.
Second, the Attorney General commended the Chief Judge’s attention to the physical environment of the courts, noting the ongoing refurbishing of court halls, maintenance of facilities, and modernisation of court buildings, which he said have “helped to improve the dignity and morale of judicial officers and staff across the state.”
“For this, My Lord, we owe you deep appreciation,” Uwanna stated, directly addressing the Chief Judge.
While celebrating the reforms, Uwanna cautioned that structural improvements alone are insufficient without the ethical foundation to sustain them.
“Even as we celebrate these strides, the theme of this Law Week reminds us that laws, technology and infrastructure are only as strong as the values that animate them,” Uwanna stated.
He identified the multiple dimensions of preserving judicial integrity: “Preserving judicial integrity demands ethical advocacy by lawyers, incorruptible adjudication by judges, transparent court administration, and an uncompromising stance against any attempt to corrupt or intimidate the justice system.”
He urged the adoption of “innovative approaches such as restorative justice, alternative dispute resolution and small claims procedures, so that justice is accessible, timely and meaningful to the ordinary citizen.”
Uwanna conveyed greetings from Governor Alex Otti, OFR, describing the justice sector transformation as being conducted “in line with his manifesto and the Abia 25-year development plan.”
The reference to the 25-year development plan places the justice sector reforms within the broader framework of long-term institutional development that the Otti administration has articulated as its governing philosophy, suggesting that the investment in courts, legislation, and technology is intended to outlast any single administration.
Uwanna urged participants to ensure that the Law Week’s deliberations produce practical outcomes rather than mere rhetoric.
“I urge us not to allow those recommendations to end on the pages of communiqués; let them guide our practice in the courtrooms, our advice to stakeholders, and our engagement with the public,” Uwanna stated.
He called on participants to “engage frankly but respectfully, to share experiences from the courtrooms of Ohafia, Umuahia, Aba and beyond, and to leave here with a renewed sense of purpose.”
“The story of judicial integrity in Abia State will be written by us, by the standards we insist on, the reforms we implement, and the courage we display when those standards are tested,” Uwanna declared.
He concluded with an expression of confidence: “With a reform-minded Executive, a visionary Chief Judge, and a Bar that is committed to ethics and excellence, I am confident that we can preserve and indeed strengthen public trust and confidence in our judiciary.”
The Law Week was held at the Chief Umeh Kalu, SAN, Bar Centre, Ohafia, on Friday, June 19, 2026.
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