The Enugu State Ministry of Justice, over the weekend, debunked reports that it is demanding a compulsory N50,000 review fee as a condition for accepting a petition.
The ministry stated this in a statement by its Director of Information, Mr Chukwuemeka Nebo.
According to Nebo, the statutory processing fees do not apply to “crime victims and practitioners acting pro bono”.
Quoting him, “These processing fees are not new but have always existed. They are not taxes. They also do not go into private pockets. The Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General’s office do not charge for the submission or review of petitions, complaints, or requests by victims or ordinary citizens seeking redress or assistance.”
He described the allegations “as sinister smear campaigns by those opposed to accountability and excellence.
“These allegations are unfounded and misguided and masterminded by people who are threatened by the towering successes and achievements of the administration of Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, especially in the justice sector.
“They also ignore the reform-oriented agenda that the Attorney General has pursued with integrity and dedication, earning recognition as a figure of probity and excellence in public service.”
Nebo accused the instigators of the claims of relying on hearsay. He stated, “Enugu State government therefore demands the immediate retraction of the false, malicious, and defamatory publications.”
The statement said the state Attorney General, Dr Kingsley Udeh, SAN, was committed to ensuring that justice in Enugu State “is accessible, free to those who need it, administered with excellence, delivered promptly, and carried out with transparency and fairness”. It added that the state takes matters of justice and rights seriously and does not hesitate to address any such matters brought to its notice.
Nebo listed some innovations in the ministry to include the digitalisation and automation across the Judiciary and Ministry of Justice, including e-filing, virtual hearing and an integrated case-management system; onboarding and capacity-building for judges and court staff on digital court processes; the expansion and functional strengthening of Multi-Door Courthouse and the Citizens’ Rights and Mediation Centres across the Local Government Areas; establishment of the Witness Support Fund and other victim assistance mechanisms; and the introduction of multiple e-services to speed up justice administration and improve transparency.
“All complaints and petitions are treated 100% free of charge and expeditiously. Service delivery that previously took weeks or months is now conclusively treated within days.
“These reforms have been publicly acknowledged and commended by stakeholders and covered in the media as the central pillars of the administration’s agenda to make justice accessible, efficient, transparent, and investor-friendly,” the statement concluded.
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