Ebonyi gets new Chief Judge, swears in ex-PDP Boss as Commissioner

By Ewa Nworie

A new Chief Judge for Ebonyi State, Justice Elvis Ngene, was sworn today at Christian Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki, the state capital.

Justice Ngene is the fifth Chief Judge of Ebonyi State since the creation of the state on 1st October 1996.

His swearing followed the mandatory retirement from service of the former Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, Justice Anselm Nwigwe, who officially retired from service yesterday, the 28th day of Match 2021 after spending barely two years in his office.

Governor Umahi  while swearing in the new Chief Judge paid glowing tribute to Justice Aloy Nwankwo,who handed over the barton to Justice Anselm Nwigwe, describing him(Nwankwo) as the longest serving Chief Judge in Nigeria,with good track records.

Umahi also commended the immediate outgone Chief Judge, Justice Anselm Nwigwe for toeing the line of Justice Nwankwo in making the Ebony State judiciary the best in the country.. 

The governor said,  before the appointment of Justice Ngene as the state Chief Judge, he (Ngene) was the most senior judge in the Ebonyi State judiciary  just like his predecessor before being appointed Chief Judge.
Umahi stressed that he was confident that the appointment of Justice Elvis  will further boost the operations of the state judiciary in service delivery, especially on the quick dispensation of justice.

He advocated for more training for the magistrates to keep them more in tune with their mandate and charged the new Chief Judge to always liaise with the past Chief Judges of the state, saying that government does not interfere on the affairs of the judiciary.

In his vote of thanks, Justice Elvis Ngene, thanked Governor Umahi for the honour done him promising that he would work assiduously to justify the confidence reposed on him.

"I see my appointment as not only as honour,but much more as an opportunity for me to make my input. This is a call to serve and I pledge to serve with my utmost capability and capacity."

Also sworn in by Governor David Umahi as the state Commissioner for Capital City development, was the immediate past PDP Chairman in the state, Barr.Onyekachi Nwebonyi, who resigned his position last weekend and joined the ruling  All Progressives Congress(APC).