Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state, says, his administration will provide the necessary security to judges and lawyers for the protection of their wellbeing and honour.
Senator Abubakar Atiku made it emphatic that the government has placed optimum premium on the security and welfare of judicial officers.
The governor gave this assurance in response to the request by the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, for the provision of cars and self-owned accommodation to magistrates and other judges, at a reception organized for the newly sworn-in judges in Birnin Kebbi this Tuesday.
The NBA alerted the governor that some of the Magistrates and Judges have to resort to the use of commercial motorcycles and commercial vehicles for transport while others were living in rented houses which could be dangerous to their security.
Governor Atiku Bagudu vowed to reverse the trend by facilitating the provision of official cars to the judicial officers and acquisition of self-contained houses either directly or through lending institutions.
He commended judges of the High Court, Magistrates, Sharia Courts and Lawyers as well as the Chief Judge of the State for making Kebbi a pace setter in the quick dispensation of justice in Nigeria.
Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu acknowledged and appreciated the disclosure by the Chief Judge that lawyers from other states have been trooping to Kebbi state to litigate cases to garner experience or serve as prelude to acquiring the position of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.
The Governor was equally delighted about the prevalence of indigenes of Kebbi state being appointed as High Court Judges, Court of Appeal, the elevation of Justice Amina Augie as Justice of the Supreme Court as well as the recent election of Yakubu Maikyau as President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA.
Senator Atiku Bagudu added that Kebbi state judiciary has facilitated access to justice which served as a fundamental metaphor to the wellbeing of the society.
He thanked all Judges, Qadis and the State Ministry of Justice for raising the standard of the judiciary in the state.
The governor commended the Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria, MULAN and the Law Officers Association of Nigeria, LOAN, for organizing reception in honour of the newly sworn-in judges of the High Court, a Qadi and the disengagement from service of Director of Finance of the judiciary.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Judge of Kebbi State, Justice Suleiman Muhammad Ambursa, thanked Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for sustaining support to the judiciary that made it to becoming robust and excellent in performance.
Justice Suleiman Ambursa further commended Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for his unprecedented action of appointing eight High Court Judges and four Qadis more than any other administration in the history of Kebbi state.
The Chief Judge was glad to announce that Kebbi state has been ranked second in fast tracking cases in Nigeria, saying that the feat became achievable with the support of the governor.
Justice Suleiman Ambursa acknowledged that the judiciary in the state has been enjoying free atmosphere within which to operate without interference nor intimidation from the government because every judge has the freedom to handle cases on his or her own volition.
He commended Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for providing the necessary wherewithal to the State Ministry of Justice in the prosecution of cases in accordance with the law.
The Chief Judge advised the newly sworn-in Judges of the High Court and the Qadi to dispense justice in consonance with the statues, saying that the world is watching them as they sit on the bench.
Kebbi State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Abubakar Zaki Lonzon represented by the Director Civil Litigation, Barrister Bagudu Umar Abubakar dwelt on the obligation for judges and lawyers to adhere to code of conduct for judicial officers in the discharge of their functions.
The Chairman of the Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria, MULAN Kebbi State, Barrister Yusuf Hamza, Esq. said the reception and symposium were in honour of the newly sworn-in judges of the high court and a Qadi.
He thanked the governor for his support to the judiciary and payment of dues but appealed to him to increase the emoluments of lawyers and other judicial officers.
Barrister Yusuf Hamza requested the governor to lift embargo on employment to allow for the recruitment of additional lawyers into the service who were now in short supply in the state as a result of exit of some lawyers to other places.
The MULAN Chairman also, would want the government to address issues of Court Infrastructure and Transport for Judicial Officers.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Kebbi State, Barrister Lawal Hudu Garba, the Chairman of Law Officers Association of Nigeria, LOAN, Barrister Ahmad Rufa’i Aminu, Alhaji I.K Sanusi, SAN who spoke on behalf of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and the representative of the Council of Ulama, Sheikh Umar Isa Magaji.
In attendance at the reception include the Kebbi State Deputy Governor, retired Colonel Isma’ila Yombe Dabai and other top government functionaries.
