JUDICIARY
Bayelsa Legal Year: Diri Tasks Lawyers on Justice Delivery System
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
Legal practitioners in the country have again been urged to refrain from making condemnatory statements on court judgements in the media, which put the integrity of the Nigerian judicial system into serious question.
The Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, gave the charge at a ceremonial court session in Yenagoa, on Friday, to mark the commencement of the 2023-2024 Legal Year in the state.
Diri, who was represented by his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said the practice among lawyers to speak to the press after court judgements, often condemning such rulings, undermines the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary.
The Bayelsa Chief Executive therefore, called on legal practitioners to stop what he called “the practice of law in the media”, noting that whatever they used to qualify a court judgement, that is what the public would call it.
He stressed that there was no need for lawyers and their clients to make unguarded and disparaging comments about unfavorable court rulings as they have opportunity for appeal up to the supreme court.
Senator Diri, however, called on members of the Bench to be above board in their judgements to protect the image of the judiciary as the hope of the common man.
Describing the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, Diri said, everything necessary should be put in place to improve the dispensation of justice in the Nigerian justice system.
He said, “The first people who give the impression that justice has been miscarried are lawyers. The lawyers are the first to come out of the court to address the press condemning court judgements.
“Whatever you call the judgement that comes out of the court, that is exactly what the public ends up calling it. I really want us to caution ourselves. Let us stop the media practice of law in our country to safeguard the integrity of the justice system.
“We need, as a people and as a country, to see what we can do to improve on what we dispense out. And to that extent, I am talking to the judges and judicial officers that make up the bench.”
In her legal year address, the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Matilda Ayemieye, noted that opening of a new legal year afforded critical stakeholders in the justice sector to take stock of the outgone year, and make projections into the new year.
Justice Ayemieye outlined major achievements in the previous legal year to include the upgrade of High Court complex named after Justice Koripamo Ungbuku; completion of new Judges Quarters; introduction of Court Recording System, and e-filing of cases.
She disclosed that at the commencement of the past year, total number of cases stood at 2,577; whereas, fresh cases filed within the year under review amounted to 2,834.
Justice Ayemieye also informed that 2,575 cases were successfully disposed off by the courts, while the number of pending cases brought forward to the new legal year stood at 2,850.
On challenges confronting the state judiciary, the Chief Judge highlighted man-power deficits, inadequate funding and increasing pressure on existing court infrastructure and called on the government to sustain its support by addressing the challenges.
“Efforts are currently ongoing to open all courts outside Yenagoa to increase accessibility and reduce the cost of litigation. We have commenced work on the renovation of both the Magistrate and High Courts in Kaiama. Ogbia and Sagbama High Courts will follow in a matter of days. It is our hope that by end of the current year, all courts sitting outside their designated places of session would be fully relocated” she disclosed.
In his address, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yenagoa Branch, Mr. Somina Johnbull, assured the Chief Judge of the state NBA’s preparedness to work with her in building a virile judiciary for the benefit of all.
Johnbull, called on relevant authorities to make an upward review of the salaries of judiciary staff to strengthen and enhance their independence.
Also, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Biriyai Dambo, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and his predecessor, Kemasuode Wodu (SAN), acknowledged the harmonious working relationship between the executive and judiciary in the state.
While advising young lawyers to be patient, hardworking and diligent, Wodu also implored older members of the Bench and Bar to take their healthcare seriously.
JUDICIARY
Court Shifts Judgment in Suit Seeking Ganduje’s Sack Until Sept. 23
A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, shifted the judgment in a suit seeking the removal of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Sept. 23.The matter, which was earlier fixed for today, was not on the cause list.NAN gathered that the parties in the suit had earlier been reached by the court registrar for a new date because the judgement was not ready.
“We have already called the parties on phone to inform them of the development. A new date is next week, September 23,” a reliable source said.Justice Inyang Ekwo had, on July 5, fixed today (Sept. 18) for the judgment.Justice Ekwo fixed the date after counsel to the plaintiff, Benjamin Davou; and lawyers to the defence adopted their processes and made their submission for and against the case.The plaintiff; the North Central APC Forum, led by Saleh Zazzaga, had filed the suit to queried the propriety of Ganduje’s appointment as the Chairman of the APC when he is not from the North Central geo-political zone.In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024, the plaintiff listed Ganduje, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.The plaintiff wants the court to, among others, restrain Ganduje from further parading himself as the chairman of the APC.It also prays the court to issue an order directing INEC not to accord recognition to all actions taken by the APC, including congresses, primaries and nominations, since Ganduje became APC Chairman on August 3, 2023.The plaintiff is contending among others, that Ganduje is occupying the office of the APC chairman illegally, not being from a state in the North Central geo-political zone.It argued that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC breached the party’s constitution when it appointed Ganduje, from Kano State in the North West geo- political zone to replace Sen. Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State in the North Central geo-political zone.It also argued that Ganduje’s appointment to replace Abdullahi was contrary to Article 31.5(1) f of the APC constitution and ultra vires the powers of the NEC of the party, among other reliefs.(NAN)JUDICIARY
Poultry Farm Manager Faces N160,000 Fraud Charge
A 30-year-old poultry farm manager, Stephen Nwachi, on Thursday, appeared before an Okitipupa Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State, over alleged N160,000 fraud.The defendant, whose address was not provided, is facing a two-count charge bordering on felony and advance fee fraud.The police prosecutor, ASP Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on June 24, at 04.
00 p. m. at a poultry farm opposite Zomelo hotel on Okitipupa-Aye Road in Okitipupa.Orogbemi said that the defendant fraudulently obtained the sum of N160,000 from one Morenike Orukotan, under the pretext of supplying some crates of eggs to her but failed to do so.The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 419 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.The Chief Magistrate, Mr Philip Akinlosetu, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 with one surety in like sum.He ordered that the surety should reside within the jurisdiction of the court.Akinlosetu also held that the surety should show evidence of two years tax payment to the state government.He adjourned the case until Sept. 17 for further hearing. (NAN)JUDICIARY
Court Remands Man, 44, for Allegedly Defiling 9-year-old Girl
A Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Lagos, on Wednesday remanded a 44-year-old man, Sunday Lukas in custody, for allegedly defiling a nine-year-old girl.The Chief Magistrate, Mr Patrick Adekomaiya, ordered that Lukas be remanded at the Awarjigoh Correctional Centre, Badagry, after he pleaded not guilty to a count charge of assault.
He ordered that the case file be duplicated and sent to the office of the Director for Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice. Adekomaiya, however, adjourned the case until Oct. 28 for ruling on the bail application filed by Lukas and for DPP’s legal advice.Earlier, the police prosecutor, Ayodele Adeosun, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on May 28, at 12.20 p.m., at No. 4, Aribena Site, Ijanikin area of Lagos.He said that Lukas indecently assaulted the nine-year-old girl by inserting his fingers in her private part.The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 135 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. (NAN)