Niger Chief Judge weeps openly over bandit’s killing of Sharia Court Registrar

The Chief Judge of Niger State Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik failed to control her emotion as she wept profusely over the killing of the Registrar Sharia Court, Ibbi Mallam Mohammad Namaru by armed bandits.

The Registrar was on the 11th April 2023 kidnapped at the Court premises by armed men suspected to be bandits and was killed by his abductors.

Justice Abdulmalik who recalled the dastardly killing of the Registrar during the Special court session to mark the 2023/2024 Legal Year of the state High court stated that the activities of armed bandits in Niger state has forced the closure of four Magistrate courts and eleven Sharia courts.

“I will not conclude without referring to the issue of insecurity in the state which has forced us to close four Magistrate courts.

“I also understand that eleven Sharia courts have been closed down as a result. Worst still on 11th April 2023, Mallam Mohammad Namaru, Registrar of Shari’a court, Ibbi was kidnapped at the court premises by armed bandits.

“He was later killed by his abductors. May his gentle soul rest in peace,” Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik said in an emotional laden tune.

She called on the Niger State goverment to extend its magnimity to the family and give the the young children of the deceased scholarship for their education, noting that it will not only help the family, but will boost the resolve to continue to unconditionally serve our state and our country.”

Speaking on the 2023/2024 legal year, the chief judge disclosed that the event was meant to renew the individual determination as Judicial officers to uphold the rule of law and to strengthen the integrity of the bench to do justice to all manner of people.

According to the Chief Judge, the judiciary in Niger state is to a large extent successful in maintaining it’s Independence and Protecting its impartiality assuring that the Judiciary Will always strive to live up its statutory responsibilities without fear or favor, affection or I’ll will.

She explained that despite the insufficiency of funds, the Judiciary under her leadership has made tremendous progress in terms of infrastructural development in the last one year, starting by embarking on radical reforms,and massive renovations of five Magistrate Courts and six offices within the High court complexe in Minna.

The essence of observing the legal year according to the Chief judge was to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the work done and achievement recorded in the proceeding years, identify the Challenges encountered and make projections for the future.

“As you are you are all aware, the Judiciary being the third arm of government is charged with the responsibility of dispensing justice to all manner of people in the society.

“Hence the adage that the judiciary is is the last hope of the common man” justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik observed.

Speaking earlier, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Niger State, Barrister Nasir Muazu announced that in the past years, “the judiciary has witnessed the legal Community’s resilience and adaptability in the face of unprecedented challenges.”

He pointed out that the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 has forced the legal Community to rethink the way to deliver justice, “pushing us to embrace technology, virtual courtrooms and remote legal proceedings. This according to him change have demonstrated the flexibility and dedication of legal professionals to ensure that justice prevails no matter the circumstances.