By Eseoghene Emuke
Delta State Chief Judge, Justice Marshall Umukoro, has said mobile courts set up to try defaulters of the COVID-19 protocols aimed at containing the spread of the coronavirus will begin sitting tomorrow (Wednesday) across the state.
He appealed to members of the public to strictly adhere to all the necessary guidelines to avoid arrest and prosecution by the task force set up by the state government.
Umukoro disclosed this on Tuesday in Asaba during the reopening of the rebuilt High Court Complex which was burnt during ENDSARS protests in 2020.
According to him, “As from tomorrow, (Wednesday), the mobile court on COVID-19 will start sitting. So, the media should spread the news and let the people know that anybody not wearing face masks from tomorrow will be prosecuted.”
Delta CJ also disclosed that the Local Government Elections Tribunals to receive petitions that would arise from the Local Government Councils elections scheduled for March 6, 2021, is to be inaugurated Feb. 17.
“The law says that, latest two weeks before the election, the Election Petitions Tribunals ought to have been in place. So, on the 17th of February, we will inaugurate the tribunals to receive petitions from the three senatorial districts in the state,” he stated.
Umukoro warned youths in the state against taking laws into their hands, just as he added that broken homes were responsible for majority of crimes.
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“We pray that our youths should be able to live within the limit of the law and morality.
“Most of the youths who engage in crimes are all products of broken homes. I go for prison visits and mostly all the inmates there are products of broken homes,” he added
Speaking at the occasion, the Commissioner for Information in the state, Mr Charles Aniagwu, told newsmen that the state government was building a new high court complex that would accommodate all the judges in Asaba.
He said Governor Okowa’s administration was conscious of access to justice and dispensation of justice in the state hence it embarked on the construction of the high court headquarters.
“Of course, you are aware of the new High Court building that is ongoing.
“A six-storey building that will house the office of the CJ and other Judges and it will be well digitalised to help in the speedy dispensation of justice,” Aniagwu said.
