By Zahra Muhammad
ASHENEWS reports that the Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik on Tuesday made a case for three retired chief judges of the state who she said are yet to receive their retirement benefits.
Abdulmalik stated this while speaking at the special court session held at the High Court complex in Minna to mark the beginning of the 2023/2024 legal year.
She identified the judges as Justice Ahmed Bima, Justice Aliyu Mayaki, and Justice Aisha Lami Bawa Bwari.
In her words, “Throughout their tenure as chief judges, neither Justice Ahmed Bima nor Justice Aliyu Mayaki was given an official vehicle and the duo of Mayaki who retired in October 2020, and Justice Bwari in February 2022 are yet to be paid their gratuities.”
Speaking about the special court session, the chief judge said that the event is meant to renew the individual determinations of judicial officials in upholding the rule of law and strengthen the integrity of the justice system.
“The judiciary in Niger state is to a large extent successful in maintaining its independence and protecting its impartiality,” she said.
She said that four magistrates courts and 11 sharia courts have been closed down due to insecurity in some parts of the state.
“Worse still, on the 11th of April 2023, Muhammad Namaru, a registrar of the Sharia court was kidnapped at the court premises in Ibbi. He was later killed by his abductors,” she added.
The chief judge further charged the state government to re-constitute the Niger State Judicial Service Commission to enable it to discharge its constitutional mandate.
In his remark, the Niger state governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago lauded the judiciary for its efforts at protecting the rights and interests of the common man.
He further applauded the judiciary for working tirelessly despite the meager resources at its disposal.
The governor pledged to support the judiciary in a bid to strengthen the rule of law and the integrity of the system.
He said that his administration, having taken note of all the challenges highlighted will work towards meeting all recommendations.
Bago equally charged the state judiciary to promote alternative dispute resolution measures to lessen the burden of litigation on the system.
