The Chief Judge of Kogi, Justice Nasir Ajanah, on Tuesday called for immediate implementation of financial autonomy for state judiciary, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, for effective and efficient administration of justice.
Ajanah made the call at the inauguration of a Magistrates’ Court in Okaba, Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi, adding that time had come for the financial autonomy of states to ‘be given life and breath.’
He said that Section 121(3)(b) of the Constitution provided that, “Any amount standing to the credit of the judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state shall be paid directly to the said bodies, respectively.
“In the case of judiciary, such amount shall be paid directly to the Heads of Court concerned,” he said.
He added that the judiciary could not continue to go cap in hand to the Executive to execute projects.
Ajanah said that the financial autonomy of the state judiciary was “sine qua non to the effective and efficient administration of justice in the states of the federation.“
Inaugurating the Magistrates’ Court, Ajanah said, “Section 6(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) states: “The judicial powers of the Federation shall be vested in the courts.“
“The courts that will exercise these powers must be given appropriate infrastructure from which they will operate.”
He said that there was need for such courts “in all our towns, no matter how remote.”
Ajanah eulogised Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim (SAN), former Attorney- General and Minister of Justice, who financed the building of the Court, describing him as a great Nigerian.
Ibrahim, represented by a community leader, Alhaji Momoh Abu, said he undertook the project in response to the community’s constant complaints over delay in dispensation of justice and to bring justice closer to the community, adding that the era of waiting for government to do everything for the people was over.
The SAN commended the chief judge for granting him the approval to build the court.
Chief Mohammed Ogbe, the Onu-Ojoku, who spoke on behalf of traditional rulers in the area, said the development would further help to uphold the Rule of Law and quick dispensation of justice.
Alhaji Salihu Isah, Chairman of National Working Committee of Okaba community, said the people of the community had to cry to the former minister to assist in building in the court, following the growing crime wave and sophistication being deployed by the criminals in carrying out their activities in the area.(NAN)
