By Sam Eyoboka

Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, has opined that the nation’s democracy cannot be sustained without the rule of law taking a very deep root in governance.

Prof. Utuama, made the assertion while playing host to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Ndah Auta (OFR), during a courtesy call at his residence, Asaba, Delta State.

The deputy governor, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, noted that Delta State is very mindful of the place of the judiciary in terms of justice administration and service to the people. “For this reason we do everything that is humanly possible in the state to ensure that state and federal courts operating here get the attention they deserve,” he maintained.

Prof. Utuama, who stated that the Federal High Court complexes in Asaba and Warri are very important to the state, advocated for more, arguing that it won’t be out of place if the state has more than two federal high courts considering the nature of the state.

He noted that the state government remains committed to supporting the judicial system for effective justice and administration. According to him; “it is no wonder that we are among the first states to have the bill on judicial autonomy, and with improved revenue coming in, it will function as it is supposed to function and the courts can provide for themselves.

“That is our desire, that is our goal, and we believe that someday we will achieve it so that the court which is the hope of the masses will be able to stand up independently of itself without recourse to any arm of government” Prof. Utuama stated.

The chief judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Auta, in his remark commended the state government for its support to the judiciary.

He stated that his visit to the state is with respect to the official commissioning of the Federal High Court Complex in Asaba, noting that the building is one of the best and very important to the judiciary.

While thanking the state governor for the provision of 500 kva transformer to boost power supply in the federal high court area, he commended the people of Delta State for always respecting the law.