The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Gombe has expressed disgust that the state is lacking a codified and updated body of laws, relying instead, on outdated laws enacted by the old Bauchi State.
The association therefore urged the Gombe State government to expedite the compilation and publication of the state’s laws, expressing confidence that judicial autonomy is achievable under the leadership of Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya to ensure greater efficiency and independence.
The state NBA chairman, Barrister Benjamin Sati said on the occasion of 2024/2025 new legal year, called for collective renewal of commitment to justice, fairness, and professional excellence to build a justice system that serves all with integrity and honour.
He also stressed the need for stricter oversight of court staff and security agencies involved in executing judgments to prevent deviations from the court’s rulings, and called on lawyers to uphold ethical standards.
The NBA chairman also urged the government to reinstate allowances for Law School students to alleviate the financial burden on indigent students, as well as regular training, both local and international, for judicial officers and legal practitioners essentially for their professional growth.
Sati described the legal profession as the cornerstone of democracy and the rule of law, and tasked the legal practitioners to safeguard individual freedoms, ensure fairness, and protect the vulnerable, saying every decision make, argument presented, and case handled reverberates far beyond the courtroom, shaping the lives of individuals and communities alike.
Justice Halima Mohammed earlier said that true justice and equity can only be achieved when their commitments to one another and to the generations to come, revealing that of the State High Court 616 total cases filed, 555 were disposed of, with 781 cases pending by the end of the year under review.
“This underscores our commitment to timely justice delivery. At the Magistrate/District Courts level, a total of 5,474 criminal cases were filed out of which 3,568 were determined leaving 1,906 pending.
For civil matters, 729 cases were filed, and 462 cases were disposed of with 267 pending cases.”
Justice Halima Mohammed appealed for the implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary to accommodate the expanding needs of the Gombe State Judiciary, stressing that with adequate funding, it would continue to make efforts to modernise the courts, invest in digital innovations, and enhance training opportunities for our personnel.
