Nasarawa state to construct new court complex

Gov. Tanko Al-makura of Nasarawa state on Tuesday laid the foundation for the construction of new multi-million naira high court complex  in Lafia, to ensure speedy administration of justice in the state.

Al-makura, during event, re-stated his administration’s commitment to continue to give the judicial arm of the government the adequate support it deserved.

He said that the the complex would be equipped with modern facilities, adding that the work had completion period of six months.

According to him, “the new complex will comprise the Chief Judge’s Chambers and court rooms, additional offices for judges, the registry, exhibit rooms, library, cloakrooms and other smart facilities to make the judiciary become internet compliant for efficient justice dispensation.

“It is in recognition of the role this important arm of government plays in the dispensation of justice that this administration always ensures that the bench is occupied with  competent judges that can truly serve as the last hope of the common man.

“It is also for this reason that government does not hesitate to ensure that the judiciary enjoys independence and autonomy in its unique responsibility of dispensing justice which, must at all times, be guided by adherence to due process.

“Perhaps I should take the liberty of this occasion to comment on some unsavory developments in the judiciary which call for immediate attention.

“I note with grave concern, the unnecessary and often times unjustified granting of exparte orders at the slightest prompting, the slide to ethno-religious sentiments as against the balanced intellectual reasoning which the judges apply in judgments.

“(Also notes) the emergence or existence of a judiciary connected cartel, especially in the Karu axis, that connives with land grabbers to usurp and convert government land for self aggrandisement.

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“(Also) the gradual descend from a robust jurisprudence to lazy pedestrian conclusions that neither provide justice nor contributes to the pristine intellect judges are known for.

“The situation is made worse by the intellectual laziness of most of our lawyers in this jurisdiction, especially the state counsel, who don’t go a step further to test the efficacy of these questionable judgments through appeals at the Court of Appeal and indeed up to Supreme Court,” he said.

Al-makura used the occasion to urge the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to take a closer look at the activities.

He added that Judicial Service Commission, over the years, routinise its operations only with respect to promotions, placements and or postings of personnel at the lower bench.

Responding, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Suleiman Dikko, commended Gov.Almakura for starting the construction of the court complex.

“I am the most happiest man today, not because of the flagging off of the construction of the new high court compex but because of the swearing in of three high court judges by Gov. Almakura,” he said.