Chief Judge of Niger State Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik
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A total of three thousand, four hundred (3,418)eighteen cases are pending in various high courts cases across Niger State, between 2022/2023, the chief judge of Niger State Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik has disclosed.
Out of which a total of two thousand, nine hundred and thirty two (2,932) were brought forward from the proceeding years (2021/2022) and a total of four hundred and eight cases were disposed off, while two nine hundred and seventy (2,970) were still pending.
The Chief judge gave the figures at the commemoration of the special court session to mark the 2023/2024 legal years which was held at the Minna High court complexe Tuesday.
She explained that from the available statistics, it is apparent that on the average, each judge of the High court has a total of two hundred twenty eight (228) cases in his docket and 34 cases were disposed off per judge.
Similarly, the chief Judge revealed that a total of eight thousand, eight hundred forty (8849), cases were filed, five thousand, four hundred and seventy (5,478), cases were disposed off while 3,234 are still pending in the magisterial divisions adding that 61 appeals were filed, 27 were disposed off and 34 are still pending at the Sharia Court of Appeals.
Justice Halima Ibrahim noted that with all the current complement of judges needs to be augmented to meet the workload and to facilitate speedy dispensation of Justice.
She urged all judicial officers both of the High and lower bench to work after to ensure the eradication of delays in trials, and to decongest the court dockets
Speaking on criminal trials, justice Halima Ibrahim positioned that the newly enacted Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of Niger State has provided timelines limits for the disposal of cases Particularly in the magistrate Courts,
” therefore, there is no justification for cases to last longer than the period provided by the law
” The Magistrates and Shari’a Courts are Courts of Summary Jurisdiction and must be kept so” she declared.
She called on members of the Bar who have the inclination of using all kinds of tactics to prolong and frustrate the hearing of cases to desist adding: “those who engage in forum shopping or frequently apply for the transfers of their cases from one court to another in order to avert the just determination of such cases must stop forth with”
Speaking on the enactment of the Administration of
Criminal Justice Law in Niger State,(ACJL) Justice Halima disclosed in line with the provision of section 35 of ACJL, Magistrates are now to commence the inspections of police stations and other detaiontions facilities other than Correctional Centres inorder to handle cases of inmates on awaiting trial.
Already, she disclosed that the ACJL mornitoring team had also been inaugurated inline with the provision of section 528 of the same law.
In its determination to curtail the incidence of youths restiveness thuggery, and insecurity bedeviling the state, Particularly within Minna and evirons, the judiciary have designated four High courts and five Magistrate Courts in the different Judiciary Divisions and Magisterial District to expeditiously try such cases.
In his remarks at the special court session, the Attorney general and Commissioner for Justice in Niger state, Barrister Nasiru Muazu called on all the critical stakeholders in the administration of justice in Niger State to strive to keep the already succes recorded as it strengthen the foundation of legal legal system and ensure that it truly represents the divers society it serves.
He called on collective synergies to break down barriers, eliminate biases and creat a legal Community that reflects the rich tapestry of our nation.
