The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikom Branch, alongside communities, business owners and other stakeholders in Cross River State, has raised about N18 million to renovate a long-abandoned High Court in Ikom Local Government Area.
The project was commissioned by the State Chief Judge, Justice Akon Bassey Ikpeme, at High Court II, Ikom Urban, in Central Cross River.
At the commissioning, the State Chief Judge, Justice Akon Ikpeme, commended the initiative, saying the project had restored hope in the justice system.
“The last time I came here I was a bit depressed, but today the story is different,” she said, pledging to improve security at the facility.
The Presiding Judge of High Court II, Justice Emmanuel Ubua, also noted that the court was previously unfit for use due to its poor condition.
The NBA Ikom Branch Chairman, Tah Edwardson Offre, said piecemeal repairs were no longer sustainable, prompting the full renovation.
Other Lawyers described the initiative as a self-help intervention following years of government inaction.
“We will help ourselves if the government is not ready to help us,” some lawyers said at the event.
A lawyer who spoke anonymously said the funds were contributed by legal practitioners, private individuals, communities and business owners to improve justice delivery in the area.
The renovation included a new roof, furniture, solar power installation, public address system, modern windows, repainting and refurbishment of the judge’s chambers.
Stakeholders decried what they described as widespread neglect of judiciary infrastructure across the state, noting that Ikom had set a new example through direct intervention.
Lawyers at the event also said the situation reflected a broader infrastructure crisis across the state’s courts.
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