Kano judiciary lacks adequate personnel, says chief judge

• Delta CJ appointed into National Judicial Council

The Acting Chief Judge of Kano State, Nasir Sagir, has condemned the inadequate number of judges in the state, stating that it may delay the speedy resolution of cases.

He made the condemnation in Kano yesterday at the second quarter of a project on court proceedings organised by Partners West Africa Nigeria.Represented by the Chief Registrar of the state High Court,Jamilu Shehu Suleiman, he said only 21 judges were managing cases that were meant to be effectively handled by over 30 judges.

He said: “When you have only 21 judges in a population of over 15 million people handling about 20 cases on daily basis, how can one guarantee a quick dispensation of justice?”

He explained that the National Industrial Court in Kano, which is serving the entire Northern Nigeria, has only one judge.“In Kano, we have over 100 sharia courts, about 80 magistrate’s courts and 20 high courts, which are facing limited number of functional judicial personnel,” he said.

Sagir stressed that a delay in the administration of justice may expose the judiciary to manipulation by the executive arm of government.He urged Partners West Africa Nigeria to intervene in the situation by providing electronic recording technology to enable the judges to meet with global standard.

He added that having such facilities would reduce the stress faced by judges who have to listen and record court proceedings by applying wisdom.The Programme Manager, Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative, Valkamiya Ahmadu Haruna explained that Partners West Africa was concerned with improving social accountability in the judiciary.

He said the project would make the citizens to have access to justice and opportunity to constructively engage government.

Meanwhile, the Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Marshal Umukoro has been appointed as a member of the National Judicial Council (NJC).A statement by the chief judge’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Timothy Agbaragu, said the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Samuel Onnoghen, made the appointment on March 27, 2017.