By Uzo Ugwunze
The National Community Policing Campaign, NCPC, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC has named His Worship, Chief Magistrate Onome Martha Nwankwo, the Administrative Magistrate of Ogbaru Magisterial District in Anambra state as the best Magistrate in Nigeria for the year 2025.
Executive Director of NCPC-ICPC, Kingsley Ubah who disclosed this on Thursday while decorating her with the best award at Magistrate Court 1 Hall, Okpoko in Ogbaru Magisterial District located inside Okpoko Community Development Union Secretariat, said Chief Magistrate Nwankwo took the lead among other judicial officers selected and eventually she was unanimously nominated by the NCPC after a close monitor at her incorruptible style of dispensation of justice in the judicial system.
He therefore urged the judicial officers in the country to emulate her exemplary gestures by shunning all forms of corruption, dishonesty and sharp practices capable of demeaning the integrity of judicial officers in the country.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Anambra state Director of NCPC-ICPC, Elder Christopher Madueke had explained that a man or woman has a day of birth and a day of death on earth, adding that a person is bound to be recognized by the achievements and type life style he or she lived between the date of his or her birth and the date of his or her death.
According to Elder Madueke, “whether you lived 100 or 1,000 years on earth, what matters most in the life of any mortal is not how long but how well, how honesty, how neutral and how dedicated you lived the life in all it’s ramifications”.
President-General of Okpoko Community Development Union, OCDU, Sir Charles Ezeokafor noted that Chief Magistrate Nwankwo had always remained a shining example in the temple of justice and expressed optimism that her conduct would remain indelible in the anals of history.
President of Ogbaru Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, Chief Ndubuisi Ochiogu who made a cash donation of N50,000 on behalf of the market association in appreciation for her nomination as the best Magistrate for the year 2025, described Chief Magistrate Nwankwo as a straight forward person who will always be remembered for her uprightness urging other members of the Bench to emulate her Incorruptibleness.
Flanked by other executive members of the market, including Chief Bucknor Agu, Ochiogu praised the award recipient for her land mark judgements so far in Okpoko where she is the Administrative Magistrate and urged her to maintain the tempo.
The Divisional Police Officer at Okpoko, CSP Ewelu Owai, in his own remarks, said for Chief Magistrate Nwankwo to win the Chairmanship of Magistrate Association of Nigeria, MAN, Anambra state chapter for a second tenure unopposed is an indication that she actually possesses the attributes of a best Magistrate in Nigeria.
Founder/National Coordinator of Human Rights Guide Association of Nigeria, Chief Raphael Agu (Commodore), described Chief Magistrate Nwankwo as an upright person and called on other law officers in the country to emulate her shining example.
Responding, Chief Magistrate Nwankwo who expressed appreciation for the honour done her, particularly the way the organizers enlarged the ceremony, assured them that she would continue to remain incorruptible until she retired from active service.
According to her, “Nobody can buy justice in my court. I am not corrupt. I don’t take bribe. Non of my judgements has been up turned by a superior court because I handle cases the way they are. Nothing more, nothing less and that has been my mantra. I became a Magistrate about 18 years ago and I rose through the ranks to become a Chief Magistrate”.
“I am currently the Administrative Magistrate for Ogbaru Magisterial District and I am also serving my second tenure as Chairman of Magistrate Association of Nigeria, MAN to the glory of God. So I thank all those who devoted their time to attend this epock-making event in honour of my humble self”said Mrs Nwankwo.