FROM MIJINYAWA BABA- UTHMAN MINNA
Some Magistrates in the Service of the Niger State Judiciary board commercial vehicles with litigants and defendants standing trial in their courts.rimawaonline findings has revealed.
The Magistrates who has their courts outside the state headquarters traveled in commercial vehicles along with litigants and defendants standing trial on Criminal related cases in their court rimawaonline reliably gathered that Magistrate in Nasarawa, Kebbi, Kogi, FCT and Zamfara states were all given official vehicles by their respective states governors to ease their movement to their stations.
The ugly and undignified situation it was further gathered had in recent time caused Unpleasant embarrassment to three Magistrate who boarded commercial vehicles along with some suspected criminals who were tried by one of the Magistrate in the same vehicle with his colleagues.
According to the Magistrate who begged for anonymity for Security reasons," my self and two of my colleagues boarded the same commercial vehicle along with a suspect that was arraigned in my court to attend a function. He was able to recognize me as the Magistrate that tried him. However, he didn't say anything but I wasn't comfortable throughout the Journey"
The former governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello donated thirty seven numbers of peugeot saloon cars to some Magistrates and Shariah Court Judges in 2021 with a promise to complete the remaining vehicles to those that were not given.
The Chief Judge of Niger State Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik had during the 2023 legal year drawn the attention of governor Mohammed Umar Bago to the issue, reminding him to assist in the supply of the remaining vehicles.
She reminded the governor that his predecessor had some times in 2021 provided 37 vehicles to the Magistrate with the promise to provide them with the remaining " the promise he couldn't fulfill before the expiration of his tenure.
" Your Excellency, I want to use this forum to remind you to provide them with the remaining vehicles. It will interest you to note that some of the Magistrates enter Public transport along with litigants appearing in their court which is undignified of them" the chief judge posited.
Speaking in a telephone interview with rimawa online Thursday, the chairman Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Minna Branch Barrister Abdulkadir Mohammed Waziri, described the plight of the Magistrates boarding Public transport along with litigants as undignified of their position.
He said Magistrates in the state Judiciary deserve their own cars like what is obtained in other states of the Federation stating that Niger state should not be exceptional.
" Magistrates in other part of the country were provided with vehicles but our Magistrates In Niger State enter Public transport with suspects that appear in their courts which is very dangerous to the Magistrate.
" I'm appealing to both the Niger Chief Judge and the governor of Niger State to as a matter of necessity provide them with vehicle to safeguard their lives" he asserted.
