CHIEF JUDGE MAKES CASE FOR JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE

Chief Judge of Kano State Justice Shehu Atiku has called on the state government to speed up implementation of the law guaranteeing financial autonomy of the judiciary  by allowing it to receive its finances directly from the state's consolidated fund.

Justice Atiku spoke yesterday while addressing the opening ceremony of the 38th Joint Conference of Chief Judges, Grand Kadis, and Presidents of Customary Courts of Appeal of the Northern States and FCT, which opened in Kano yesterday.

The chief judge said the call became necessary in view of the bottlenecks which the absence of financial autonomy constitutes to the courts and judiciary personnel in the discharge of their duties.

Justice Atiku, who commended the state government for its consistent support for the state judiciary, however stressed the need for the implementation of the provision of Section 121(3) of the 1999 constitution which he said provided that; 'Any amount standing to credit of the judiciary in the consolidated revenue fund of the state shall be paid directly to the heads of the courts concerned.'

The joint conference which will last for three days, will address problems associated with the administration of justice in the country, its chairman Chief Judge of Kebbi State, Justice Ibrahim Umar said in his remarks. The chairman noted that participating judicial officers would exchange ideas and take stock of the performances of third arm of government under the current democratic dispensation, saying particular emphasis would be given to areas of rule of law, independence and funding of the judiciary, delay in the administration of justice, prison reforms among others.

Speaking earlier on behalf of Kano Governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, the state Attorney General, Aliyu Umar, said government was paying special attention to the needs of the judiciary, especially in the area of human capacity development.

He added that the Kano State government had in that regards, approved the establishment of a Judicial Training School to be saddled with organizing and conducting trainings, seminars and workshops with a view to enhancing the skills and capabilities of judicial staff.