Governor Ortom swears in new chief judge

 Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has sworn in a new Chief Judge of the State,  Justice Adam Ochume Onum.

Ortom charged the new Chief Judge to ensure speedy dispensation of Justice.

The governor said that Justice Onum was appointed on merit based on his competency, professionalism and display of fairness while delivery judgements.

He described Justice Onum as an erudite jurist whose knowledge and practice of the legal profession has been a reproach, stressing that he has over the years established an enviable reputation as a man of conscience who is fair, just and firm in the discharge of his responsibilities.

According to the governor, ‘ you must work hard not to just follow in the footsteps of your predecessors, but surpass them by deepening Justice administration in the State’.

“It is our desire that he will also, open a new vista in the quick dispensation of Justice to all manner of people through the deployment of ICT and other best practices”, the governor advised, Ortom stated.

He  further said that in spite of the obvious financial challenges confronting the State, his government has made deliberate efforts to enhance and facilitate the quick dispensation of Justice through the harmonization of salary and emoluments of legal officers in the Ministry of Justice with those of magistrates which they had demanded in the last eight years and even gone on work – to – rule action to press home their demand.

The new Chief Judge, Justice Adam Onum while responding said with the present administration there was no delay in a long-acting capacity of the Chief judge where politics usually set in to create abnormality.

While promising to discharge his duty within the ambit of the law, the Chief Judge lauded the spirit of fairness in Ortom administration noting in spite of the fact that he had passed several judgements against the government,  he was deemed fit to be appointed Chief judge of the state.

Justice Adam Onum is said to be the first Chief Judge of Idoma extraction since the creation of the State in 41 years ago.