Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, has inaugurated a newly constructed Digital Court Building, describing it as a major milestone in his administration’s drive to ensure speedy, efficient, and people-centred justice delivery in the state.
Governor Mbah said that the integration of technology, alongside judicial financial autonomy already in operation in Enugu State, would guarantee a judiciary that is not only independent in principle but effective in practice.
The governor made this known during the inauguration of the digital court facility and a special court session marking the commencement of the 2025/2026 Legal Year of the Enugu State Judiciary at the state judicial complex on Monday. He was represented at the event by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia.
According to Mbah, the theme of the legal year – “Enugu State Judiciary: Ushering in a New Era of Efficient Justice Delivery through Technological Integration and Financial Autonomy” – aligns squarely with his administration’s vision of strengthening governance through institutional reforms and innovation.
He explained that the four ultra-modern court halls were designed to decongest existing courtrooms, improve working conditions for judicial officers, and enhance the dignity, speed, and efficiency of judicial proceedings.
“These court halls are not merely physical structures; they are purpose-built facilities equipped with digital recording systems, smart displays, secure data connectivity, and ergonomic designs that meet contemporary standards for modern courts.
“They represent our commitment to creating an enabling environment for justice delivery,” Mbah stated.
In his remarks, the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Raymond Ozoemena, urged judicial officers to uphold the judiciary’s role as the last hope of the common man by demonstrating integrity, professionalism, and zero tolerance for corruption.
Justice Ozoemena disclosed that the judiciary had embarked on comprehensive reforms aimed at improving service delivery, noting that incremental changes were no longer sufficient to meet public expectations.
“What was required was a complete rethinking of how cases move through the justice system. That need was met by the vision of Governor Peter Mbah, who identified the judiciary as a critical focus area from the inception of his administration,” he said.
The Chief Judge announced the formal launch of a digital justice platform that would transform how cases are filed, processed, heard, recorded, and concluded across the Enugu State Judiciary.
According to him, the digital transformation covers the High Court of Justice, Customary Court of Appeal, Chief Magistrates’ Courts, Customary Courts, the Multi-Door Courthouse, the Ministry of Justice, and public-facing services such as the Probate Division and Affidavit Sections.
Also speaking, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Osinachi Nnajieze, commended Governor Mbah for what he described as transformative support for the justice sector, positioning it as a key pillar of good governance, economic growth, and social stability.
Nnajieze disclosed that, in line with the governor’s vision, the Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with the judiciary, had implemented several digital innovations. These include the e-Litigation System, e-Affidavit System, Virtual Court Hearing System, e-Probate, and e-Lis Pendens, all currently undergoing advanced testing.
He added that the reforms also enabled full e-filing, e-assessment, e-payment, and electronic case assignment, alongside the recruitment and training of 39 verbatim court reporters to improve courtroom transcription accuracy. Visit GMTNewsng for more news.
