Posted by From AKIN ALOFETEKUN, Minna on
The Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Jibrin Ndajiwo, has thumbed down President Umaru Yar'adua's seven-point agenda on the rule of law, accusing the president and the 36 state governors of violation of the nation's constitution in their treatment of the judiciary.
The Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Jibrin Ndajiwo, has thumbed down President Umaru Yar'adua's seven-point agenda on the rule of law, accusing the president and the 36 state governors of violation of the nation's constitution in their treatment of the judiciary.
Ndajiwo stated this at the opening ceremony of a National Workshop for court registrars, protocol officers, and administrative staff in Minna, Niger State on Monday.
He particularly lamented the non-adherence to the provisions of section 121, subsection 3 of the 1999 constitution by the governors, pointing out that the judiciary still goes to the executive caps in hand to beg for what is theirs' by right.
'To the best of my knowledge, no governor of a state in this country, either serving or retired, has ever complied with this provision of the 1999 constitution. Yet everybody, high or low, rich or poor, keeps on talking about the independence of the judiciary.
'I state here now and boldly too, that there cannot be a complete independence of the judiciary without it being financially independent both at the federal and state levels.
'The governance of this country under the Rule of Law will continue to be a dream or a farce if the judiciary is not financially given its independence.
'A situation where the Chief Judge as Head of Court will have to go to the Executive begging for funds to carry out his functions is most unhealthy, humiliating, and unconstitutional," Ndajiwo said.
Niger State governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, in his address, said the state government, as part of measures to guarantee the independence of the judiciary, had approved N100 million for the construction of five residential quarters for judges and the renovation of existing ones as well as judges' chambers.
'What we have set out to do is that before a judge is even appointed, his residence will be ready. This is one of the ways the independence of the judiciary can be guaranteed," Aliyu, who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Musa Ibeto, said.