The Chief Judge of Anambra State, His Lordship Hon. Justice Onochie Anyachebelu, highlighted the urgent need for more judges in the state to handle the high volume of court cases. The theme of his speech was “Advancing Judicial Excellence in the 21st Century.

According to Justice Anyachebelu, Anambra State is a highly litigious state in Nigeria, second only to Lagos State in terms of the number of lawsuits filed and determined in a year. Despite having a much smaller population than Lagos, Anambra State has a higher ratio of court cases per capita.

Currently, the Anambra State Judiciary has 30 Honourable Judges, including the Chief Judge, 71 Learned Magistrates of various cadres, and 29 Presidents of Customary Court. However, the Chief Judge emphasized that this number is insufficient to handle the high volume of cases filed in the state’s courts.

Justice Anyachebelu suggested that one practical step to reduce the number of cases is by embracing alternative dispute resolution mechanisms (ADR) and for lawyers to be mindful of their professional ethics and rules of professional conduct. He urged lawyers to advise their clients on the reasonable probability of success before rushing to court with claims that have no business being there.

The Chief Judge also revealed that the National Judicial Council has allocated a fresh quota for the appointment of additional judges to Anambra State. However, the materialization of this quota depends on the availability of adequate accommodation and other facilities. The government is already addressing this matter, with the construction of more court buildings and judges’ quarters ongoing.

Justice Anyachebelu expressed confidence that these facilities will soon be delivered, enabling the commencement of the process for appointing additional Honourable Judges to enhance the delivery of justice in the state.