Senate Charges Governments To Ensure Safety Of Judges, Courts

Says N110billion 2021 budget for Judiciary grossly
inadequate

The Senate has asked the Federal and State governments to ensure
adequate security measures around judges and courts in the country
as part of moves to provide adequate safety for them from
spontaneous or premeditated attacks.

Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja when its Committee engaged Chief
Registrars of all the courts on their 2021 budgetary proposals,
Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal
Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, APC Ekiti Central stressed that
the recent attacks visited on the courts in the land by hoodlums
was worrisome and must be condemned in all its ramifications.

Senator Bamidele who noted that such attacks, either spontaneous
or premeditated are more or less potential assaults on Judges and
Justices which must be nipped in the bud, said, “Worthy of note,
distinguished ladies and gentlemen, is the unfortunate and
unwarranted recent attack and vandalisation of the Court of Appeal
archive office in the Lagos Division, as well as the Lagos State
High Court Complex, located at Igbosere, which was set ablaze by
hoodlums.

“This action is highly condemnable and a clarion call for the
provision of adequate security mechanisms, for the safety of Judges
and the Courts, generally.

“Aside safety of Judges and the courts, welfare of Judges as
well as electronic fittings and automation of the courts, are also
very critical areas requiring urgent attention that must be
given.”

Meanwhile, the Committee has described as grossly inadequate,
the N110 billion budgetary estimates projected for the Judiciary in
2021 as given in the 2020 fiscal year.

Speaking further, Senator Bamidele who noted that N110 billion
earmarked for the arm of government in the coming fiscal year, is
grossly inadequate to bring about the needed turnaround, said,
“This committee, will do all within its legislative powers to
ensure that the funding of the Judiciary is improved upon for
dispensation of justice in the country efficiently and
appropriately.”

All those who spoke which include the Secretary, National
Judicial Council (NJC), Ahmed Gambo Saleh, Registrars of the
various courts, issue of underfunding of the Judiciary was the
major complaints made to the Committee which it promised to look
into.

Says N110billion 2021 budget for Judiciary grossly
inadequate

The Senate has asked the Federal and State governments to ensure
adequate security measures around judges and courts in the country
as part of moves to provide adequate safety for them from
spontaneous or premeditated attacks.

Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja when its Committee engaged Chief
Registrars of all the courts on their 2021 budgetary proposals,
Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal
Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, APC Ekiti Central stressed that
the recent attacks visited on the courts in the land by hoodlums
was worrisome and must be condemned in all its ramifications.

Senator Bamidele who noted that such attacks, either spontaneous
or premeditated are more or less potential assaults on Judges and
Justices which must be nipped in the bud, said, “Worthy of note,
distinguished ladies and gentlemen, is the unfortunate and
unwarranted recent attack and vandalisation of the Court of Appeal
archive office in the Lagos Division, as well as the Lagos State
High Court Complex, located at Igbosere, which was set ablaze by
hoodlums.

“This action is highly condemnable and a clarion call for the
provision of adequate security mechanisms, for the safety of Judges
and the Courts, generally.

“Aside safety of Judges and the courts, welfare of Judges as
well as electronic fittings and automation of the courts, are also
very critical areas requiring urgent attention that must be
given.”

Meanwhile, the Committee has described as grossly inadequate,
the N110 billion budgetary estimates projected for the Judiciary in
2021 as given in the 2020 fiscal year.

Speaking further, Senator Bamidele who noted that N110 billion
earmarked for the arm of government in the coming fiscal year, is
grossly inadequate to bring about the needed turnaround, said,
“This committee, will do all within its legislative powers to
ensure that the funding of the Judiciary is improved upon for
dispensation of justice in the country efficiently and
appropriately.”

All those who spoke which include the Secretary, National
Judicial Council (NJC), Ahmed Gambo Saleh, Registrars of the
various courts, issue of underfunding of the Judiciary was the
major complaints made to the Committee which it promised to look
into.