UPDATED :Annual Vacation of FCT High Court To Commence 8th July, To September 6th

The Annual Court Vacation of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja
shall commence on Monday 8th July, to 6th September 2019. This is
contained in a Notice made available to TheNigeraLawyer (TNL) dated
13th 5, 2019 signed by FCT Chief Judge, Hon. Justice I. U. Bello
FNIALS.

Find the Notice below:

FC1/11/C1185/111/234 Q/05/2019.
To:
All Hem Judges.
High Court of ICI Abuja.

My Lords.

RE: 2019 ANNUAL COURT VACATION

In exercise of the powers conferred on me by Order 54l2 Rule 4
of the Rules of this Court, I hereby declare that the court will
proceed on Annual Vacation beginning from Monday 8th July, 2019 to
6th September, 2019.

The court will resume for the New Legal Year on 8th September,
2019 FCT

I wish Your Lordships a very pleasant vacation in advance

Hon. Justice I. U. Bello FNIALS,
Chief Judge, FCT – Abuja

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 FG to Govs: Implement Financial Autonomy to State
Assemblies, Judiciary

Honourable Attorney- General of the Federation and Minister of
Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) has charged the states to undertake
the initiative to implement financial autonomy for state
legislature and judiciary as provided by the Nigerian
Constitution.

He gave the charge in his welcome address at a two-day retreat
on Strategies and Modalities for the Implementation of Financial
Autonomy of the State Legislature and State Judiciary organized by
the Presidential Implementation Committee on Autonomy of the State
Legislature and State Judiciary, on Thursday, May 16th, 2019 in
Abuja

Malami, the Chairman of the Committee was represented by the
Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly
Matters/Secretary of the Committee, Senator Ita Enang.

According to him, ‘’the report and recommendation of the retreat
will be submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR and
implementation at the State level will start immediately in the
next one-week after the resolution of the retreat”.

He explained that the outcome of the reform will enable the
judiciary to deliver judgment without fear or favor. The allocation
due to the Judiciary would be paid to the Judiciary account
directly while that of the legislature would also be paid to
legislature account directly.

He commended the large turnout of participants at the Conference
noting that 34 Chief Judges, 31 Speakers were physically present
while others were represented.

Deputy Senate President Prof. Ike Ekweremadu, said although the
State Assembly rejected financial Autonomy for themselves in 2010
even when they put it on NASS and INEC, adding that it is an
acronym that State Legislature has accepted their financial
autonomy same for the judiciary.

He noted that as a successfully plan put arms on First-Line
charges to the Consultative fund of the State; he is of the belief
that the facts have been strengthened to better execute their
Constitutional mandates without fear or favor.

Ekweremadu explained that the whole essence of Constitutional
efforts by the National Assembly (NASS) has always been to
strengthen the Institutions of Democracy, promote good governance
and hasten National Development.

‘’Every arm of government needs adequate autonomy to deliver its
Constitutional responsibilities, sadly the Local Governments joint
accounts was rejected by the State Houses of Assembly. Also, the
bill to strengthen L.G Administration as a tier of government by
preventing recognition at any L.G Council not democratically
elected preventing such unelected LG Council receiving allocation
from Federation Account ‘said Deputy Senate President.

Speaker, National Assembly Rt Hon.Yakubu Dogara in his good-will
message, noted that the alteration act of 2017 did not introduce
the concept of the first line charge to the judiciary as it already
existed in the constitution, it only introduced the financial
autonomy for state, legislature by merely substituting the
provision with the new provision by adding State House of
Assembly.

Dogara further added that for a robust and sound democracy,
Nigeria must reverse to the old Separation of Power, where there is
a full independence of the arms of government.

He advised that the Legislature and the Judiciary should not
work for the Executive but work with the Executive, adding that
without the independence of the judiciary and legislature,
democracy will be truncated.

Chairman Nigerian’s Governors Forum, Abdullaziz Yerima,
represented by Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed
Abubakar, in his goodwill message said the State Government are
collectively committed to the enthronement of a strong and vibrant
democracy in Nigeria and will work with Federal Government to
achieve the National Implementation Strategy and ultimately ensure
autonomy of the legislature and judiciary at the National
level.

In his vote of thanks, Solicitor-General of the Federation and
Permanent Secretary Dayo Apata said the Committee was inaugurated
by President Muhammadu Buhari on 22nd March, 2019 with three
months’ timeline to submit its report.

“Today, we are here to make a presentation after the President
came up with the initiative for the Committee to come up with this
kind of intervention”, he explained.

He stated that the intervention is essential for the physical
federalism of Nigeria and how it relates to the financial autonomy
of the state, legislature and the judiciary.

Dayo Apata thanked participants, adding that the large turnout
of attendance demonstrates their interest and passion in ensuring
that Nigeria is a better place as it relates to the physical
autonomy of the state, legislature, and the judiciary.

OGOCHUKWU IGBOAMALU

FOR: DD PRESS &PRU