By Chidi Nkwopara & Chinonso Alozie

OWERRI—The National Judicial Council, NJC, has finally come to the aid of Imo State Judiciary, following the release of the names of eight new judges to serve in the state High Court and the state Customary Court of Appeal, CCA.

Governor Rochas Okorocha, who disclosed this over the weekend while addressing journalists in Owerri, also said that the new judges would be sworn in today.

While saying  that the appointment may have come a bit late, Governor Okorocha, however, reasoned that with the injection of fresh hands into the system, the administration of justice would be faster.

Although he stopped short of mentioning the names of the new judges, Vanguard, however, gathered from credible judicial sources that the eight new judges that made the list included a former Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. S. I. Opara,  B. C. Iheka,  Nnodum P. U, and Mr. Eze F.  Njemanze.

Other lawyers that were named in the fresh appointment were M. E. Nwagboso, I. M. Nwaka and Mrs. C. Oni-Egbunine, while Mrs. Sophia Ogwuegbu beefs up the number of serving judges in the state Customary Court of Appeal.

With the appointment of seven new judges, the number of serving judges in the state High Court has risen to 19 instead of about 30, while that of the CCA will now be manned by six judges instead of about seven.

It would also be recalled that the administration of justice in the state became jinxed, following the dearth of serving judges in the state.