For effective performance in the new government that begins on May 28, elected governors in the country must immediately implement the constitutional provision of financial autonomy, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, said on Monday.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the national workshop for magistrates on judicial ethics and corrupt practices organised by the National Judicial Institute in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, Justice Mohammed lamented that poor funding had been a major challenge to magistrates’ effective performances.
Prior to the election, workers in the judicial arm of government in some of the states in the country have been on strike over issues relating to financial autonomy.
Represented by a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Samuel Walter Onoghen, the CJN, while declaring the event with the theme: ‘Promoting Integrity and Transparency in the Magistrates Courts’, open, said the judiciary had not been able to discharge their duties as deserved because of the lack of funds adding that financial insecurity had exposed the magistrates to some corrupt and ignoble practices.
He said these ignoble practices, which he called ugly scenarios, are occasioned by the refusal of some State Chief Executives to obey the constitution and give to your heads of Court what belongs to the Judiciary of your State.
He said: “without proper funding, no head of court can perform magic. It is on this note that I call upon all the State Chief Executives, including those that will be coming on board on 29th of May 2015, that they should please respect and obey the Constitution they have sworn to uphold.
“All the funds appropriated to the State Judiciary should be promptly released to Heads of Courts so that they can function effectively.
“When the Magistrates feel unsecured by the government, they are tempted to provide the security themselves.
“Financial insecurity is the worst because it exposes the Magistrates to some corrupt and ignoble practices.
“This must be avoided by all means. The Magistrate must be adequately encouraged to discharge his duties without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.
“The CJN, who described the magistrates as the gateway to the Nigerian judiciary, said some of the allegations of corruption leveled against the nation’s judiciary emanated from the activities of Magistrates and other lower Court Judges.
“I am not unmindful of the hardship many of you are going through.
“I am aware that some of you sit in town halls and other unsuitable venues.
“Many of you live in rented apartments with co-tenants some of whom may be or become litigants in your courts. The security of your lives and properties are very porous.
“Many of you have been attacked by hoodlums. Some have been kidnapped and huge ransoms demanded from their families.
“Some have even been killed by assassins. All these make the condition of your work so bad and challenging.”
He however warned that he would not condone corrupt practices in the judiciary adding: “any erring magistrate will be properly disciplined. But if you carry out your duties very effectively and diligently, your reward surely awaits you. Your destiny is in your own hands.”
