By Chidi Nkwopara

OWERRI—The Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna, has decried current practice where the spirit and letter of the Nigerian Constitution, the executive arm of government remains reluctant to grant the judicial arm its deserved independence.

Obinna spoke, yesterday, during a concelebrated mass at Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri.

“The battle for the separation and ultimate independence of the judicial arm of government, is still raging. When this expected independence is achieved, the judiciary will no longer go cap in hand to the executive for funds,” Obinna said.

While describing the immunity vested on particular public office holders in Nigeria as “not helping matters,” Archbishop Obinna, however, reasoned that “impunity will continue as long as immunity persists.”

Delivering his address later in the High Court premises, Owerri, the Chief Judge, CJ, Hon. Justice Paschal Nnadi, lamented that “the judiciary infrastructure in the state did not witness much improvement and renovations in the past one year.

“The dilapidation of our court buildings became worse with the last rainy season and their yearning for urgent repairs and renovations cannot be over emphasised, as some of the magistrates still share court halls and chambers.”