NIGERIA BAR ASSOCIATION TOLD TO STOP FRIVOLOUS PETITIONS
UTHMAN BABA- SIRAJDEEN
The Nigerians Bar Association(NBA) have been admonished to desist from filling frivolous petition against judicial officers inorder to forstall Prosecution for perjury
The chief judge of Niger State Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik gave the warning in Minna while addressing participants at the opening ceremony of the Minna Branch of the NBA annual law week held at Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference centre in Minna.
She stated that the succes of the administration of Justice system rests substantially on the independence of the Judiciary stating that it is a topical issue that should be in the front burner of our national discourse.
According to her, the need for zero tolerance on Corruption should be a key factor in the Judiciary urging counsel to see to the Prosecution of cases of their client with diligence and honesty.
The Bar must ensure that in the course of prosecuting cases, they should strickly adhere to the etquette and decorum expected from members of the profession, She said.
She pointed out the Bar has been supportive of the bench requesting for the sustainability of the cooperation noting that there has not been a history of animosity ” and I must commend the bar and it’s leadership for their supportive role”.
” Our interaction has been candid and sincere. We are looking forward to the bar and bench fora in March, this year and others in the subsequent quarters.
” Let me also remind the members of the Bar of the existence of the Multi-door Court house and small claims court in the state” she asserted.
The Judiciary according to the chief Judge is making conscious efforts to provide a conducive environment for the administration of Justice in the state despite paucity of funds disclosing that at the Judicial Service Commission level ” we have not abdicated from our responsibility of discipline erring Judicial officers and Judiciary staff.
The chairman Minna Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Barrister Mohammed Abdulkadir Waziri described the Judiciary as the life-wire of democracy noting that it is unfortunate that Judiciary is on trial as it has been accused of exclusively working for the high and mighty in the society
According to the NBA Chairman,while Judicial Corruption is an impediment to the administration of Justice in Nigeria, it is unfair to allege that the Judiciary only works for the rich stating that there are many instances where powerful and influential people have been convicted in the courts for various offenses and some are still serving jail terms.
He noted that in all democracies worldwide, access to Justice is available to all, but it is entirely free more so he added administration of justice is all about proof of allegations by cogent evidence as the court is not a father Christmas that will hastily hand litigants their claims
He pointed out that litigants, especially claimants, have a responsibility of proving their cases to entitle them to reliefs sought insisting that this makes litigation to be technical and often necessitates engaging the service of lawyer with attendant financial expenses,.
