Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has charged the Bench and the bar to accelerate the trial of kidnapping suspects as the crime has assumed a notorious dimension in the country.

Dr Uduaghan who was speaking at the 2010\2011 legal year of the state judiciary enjoined the bar and the bench to redouble effort and promptly dispense cases relating to kidnapping as perpetrators of the heinous crime now see it as a lucrative business.

He regretted that victims go through unbearable hardship and trauma while relatives are forced into bankruptcy in their bid to pay ransom.

The Governor therefore said that one major antidote to kidnapping is quick trial so that court judgments on those found guilty would serve as determent to others.

His words "kidnapping is assuming a worrisome dimension and I call on the bench and the bar to check the trend and accelerate the trial of suspects.

Dr. Uduaghan said his administration has executed the peace and security programme to logical conclusion explaining that because there was peace, economic development was moving fast in the state.

He promised to support the Judiciary especially in the provision of vehicles and the building of more court halls.

The Governor also promised to promote the independence of the Judiciary and provide the necessary logistics that would make the bench and the bar operate in a conducive environment.

Emphasizing further he said "peace and security is central to economic development and there will be no development in an atmosphere of chaos".

Dr Uduaghan however urged the Judiciary to bear with the State Government as the cost of governance was enormous.

He said government prioritizes its expenditure because resources available would always never be enough to meet the needs of the people.

In her speech the Chief Judge of Delta state, Justice Roseline Bozimo, announced that six judicial officers were dismissed in the outgoing year while 15 others were demoted.

Justice Bozimo disclosed that seven judicial officers had their appointments terminated during the period while a few others had their salaries withheld.

She said the state high courts disposed 6,320 cases while magistrate courts at the period under review disposed 4,246 of such cases.

Justice Bozimo appealed for more funds to enable the judiciary complete most of the projects under construction.

She disclosed that she has laboured to build a judiciary of unquestionable fitness and competence which is occupied by men and women who are dispensing justice without fear or favour.

The Chief Judge however expressed appreciation to the State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, for contributing immensely to the modest success recorded by the Judiciary.

Speaking during the occasion the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Victor Otomiewo, said the administration of justice at the magistrate and high courts require radical review.

Chief Otomiewo said the State Government was already taking steps to abolish police prosecution of criminals matters in magistrate courts.

Mr. Otomiewo appealed to the bench to avoid granting frivolous expante applications for injunction especially during the elections.

He charged the bench not to allow unscrupulous politicians, to use such injunctions to scuttle the efforts being made to achieve free and fair election.