By Abasi Ita
Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe has pledged ₦10 million to support the speedy completion of the Nigerian Bar Association Hall in Ogoja, which has been designated as a temporary High Court following a fire that destroyed the Ogoja High Court.
The senator made the pledge during an inspection visit to assess the damage, emphasizing that the support aims to restore judicial activities in the area.
The court, located in the Government Reserved Area of Ogoja, was completely destroyed by the fire, leaving the facility beyond repair and disrupting legal proceedings.
During the visit, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Ogoja Branch, Barrister Mathias Adeshi, commended Senator Jarigbe for his ongoing support. He explained that the association is making arrangements to convert its Bar Centre into a temporary courtroom.
“As you can see, the courtroom has been completely destroyed. We are currently using a narrow hall, but we plan to complete it to serve as a temporary court facility,” Adeshi said.
He also announced that, in recognition of Senator Jarigbe’s contributions to the development of the senatorial district, the NBA Ogoja Branch would present him with an Award of Distinguished Recognition.
In response, Senator Jarigbe thanked the association for highlighting the situation and stressed the judiciary’s critical role in maintaining law and order.
“This project is essential because without justice, society would descend into chaos and the rule of law would be undermined,” he said.
He reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening institutions across Cross River North and ensuring access to justice for all residents.