Owerri Lawyer Chinedu Agu Writes Scathing Open Letter to Governor Uzodimma, Accuses Imo Government of Neglecting Judiciary

A prominent Owerri-based lawyer, Chinedu Agu, Esq, has written a powerful and satirical open letter to Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, condemning the state of the judiciary and accusing the administration of undermining the rule of law through neglect, manipulation, and poor welfare conditions for judicial officers.

In the viral letter titled “Open Letter to His Excellency, Dist. Senator Hope Uzodimma,” Agu — who described himself as recently “trained” at the Owerri Correctional Centre — criticized what he called “executive overreach and institutional decay” within Imo’s justice system.

Agu, who humorously referred to his 28-day detention as “an advanced training session,” thanked the governor for the “opportunity for intense learning,” while using biting sarcasm to highlight what he termed “new doctrines” emerging from Imo’s judiciary.

“A new doctrine emerged — the Njemanzery Doctrine — a reinvention of remand jurisprudence where adjournments now exceed statutory limits and bail can be denied in bailable offences,” he wrote.
“These innovations, midwifed under your benevolent government, have enriched our jurisprudence and will remain etched in legal history for generations,” he added mockingly.

Agu expressed concern over the emergence of a controversial High Court (Amendment) Law 2022, which allegedly empowers a Chief Registrar to assign cases when no substantive Chief Judge is in office — a move he described as “execu-lature gimmickry” that contradicts the Nigerian Constitution.

He questioned the priorities of the Imo State House of Assembly, saying it was “strange” that lawmakers considered case assignments a legislative emergency while the judiciary faced deeper crises.

The lawyer also highlighted the plight of judiciary workers, who recently suspended a week-long strike over unpaid arrears, exclusion from minimum wage benefits, and lack of welfare packages.

“They are the bolts and nuts of the justice system. Without them, justice cannot flow,” Agu wrote, urging the governor to address their grievances “decisively and permanently.”

He lamented the poor conditions of law officers and magistrates, many of whom commute to court in public vehicles, some without official cars since 2015. Agu revealed that magistrates’ salaries have remained stagnant since 2019, with promotions not accompanied by salary adjustments.

“A poorly treated judicial officer is a danger to democracy. When justice is impoverished, corruption finds fertile ground,” he warned.

Agu further urged Governor Uzodimma to use the upcoming Judicial Assizes on October 30, 2025, as an opportunity to demonstrate genuine commitment to judicial reform, rather than rely on “sycophants who tell you all is well.”

He concluded with a direct appeal:

“History will not remember them. It will remember you — the Governor who either restored or ruined the soul of justice in this state.”

The open letter has since generated wide debate across legal and political circles, with many praising Agu’s boldness while others questioned the tone of his criticism.