Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, recently declared that the state’s judiciary is among the most hardworking in the nation. He made this remark during an event celebrating the 88th birthday of former Chief Judge Retired Justice Godwin Ononiba and the launch of his book, Wisdom On The Bench: The Enduring Legacies of Godwin Ude Ononiba.

In his speech, Soludo said, “Today we celebrate Justice Ononiba and the legacy he leaves behind. He was a tireless worker, and I believe our judges here in Anambra are the most dedicated in the country. Our judiciary handles the highest number of cases per judge nationwide—only Lagos surpasses us. We call on our judges to continue upholding justice and to set the standard for others.”

Earlier at the event, Professor Ilochi Okafor, a former Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, shared his admiration for the emerging generation of young judges in Anambra. He described them as enterprising and committed to delivering effective judgments. Okafor noted, “Justice Ononiba exemplified everything the justice system should be. He was a supportive figure for junior lawyers, always humble despite his stature. Today, we see a fresh wave of dynamic judges who are tackling case backlogs and setting benchmarks through their decisions. They have the passion for justice; all they need now is continued mentorship from leaders like Justice Ononiba.”

The ceremony was chaired by retired Supreme Court Judge Anthony Iguh and was attended by numerous esteemed jurists and legal practitioners from across the country.