By Manas James Okony
A mobile court operating in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) has made significant strides in addressing judicial backlogs, passing verdicts on 36 cases since its establishment on March 10, 2024.
This initiative marks a pivotal moment for an area that has faced lawlessness and a lack of judicial infrastructure since its formation.
In an interview with No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper over the weekend, Sebit Bullen Lako, a High Court judge and head of the mobile court, highlighted that the majority of the convictions were related to criminal offenses.
As the deadline of April 8 approaches, the court is working urgently to finalize a dozen ongoing trials, he said.
“We have passed verdicts on 19 criminal cases, which include 7 murder charges under Section 206 of the Penal Code Act, 3 robbery cases, 1 rape case, and additional theft charges,” Lako explained.
He also noted that 17 civil cases were finalized, primarily dealing with land disputes that emerged after a 2019 demarcation exercise in Pibor Town. “When we arrived, there were 29 cases registered with the prosecution office. Now, we are left with just a few days to wrap up 10 remaining criminal cases before the deadline.”
Peter Ajany Kaimoi, the GPAA local government minister, expressed optimism about the court’s mission but urged for an extension.
“This is the first time since 2023 that we have a functioning judiciary in GPAA. However, one month is insufficient to address the backlog of 429 cases across the entire GPAA,” he stated, appealing to the judiciary, UNMISS, and UNDP for additional time.
Established to alleviate long-standing judicial delays in Pibor Town, the mobile court comprises 2 judges, 2 prosecutors, 4 advocates, and 3 supporting staff.
Before the court’s arrival, the GPAA was grappling with 429 pending cases, and since its inception, the region has been without a functional judicial system, contributing to ongoing inter-communal violence and criminal activity.
The GPAA was created in 2014 through a presidential decree, separating Pochalla and Pibor counties from the rest of Jonglei State. However, the lack of a constitution and a robust judicial framework has resulted in a dire need for reliable legal mechanisms that promote the rule of law and foster accountability within the community.