Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State has sworn in seven High Court judges and seven khadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal, with a call on them to maintain a high standard of conduct that enhances transparency, integrity and respect for the judiciary.
“You are to exhibit patience, dignity and courtesy to litigants, witnesses and legal officers that appear before you and accord them full rights to a hearing in accordance with the law and rules governing your courts.
“You must avoid abuse of the powers of your offices, maintain order and decorum, promptly handle cases, abstain from comments about pending or impending cases before the courts,” he said.
Governor Aliyu also charged the newly sworn in judicial officers not to allow their family members influence their judicial conduct or decisions, and warned them against using their offices as a means of obtaining personal gains.
He added that since inception, his administration has ensured that all aspects of the proper needs of the judiciary are attended to without delays.
According to him, the state government has approved the construction of an additional complex for the State High Court, and renovation work of the Sharia Court Complex to comfortably accommodate the topmost judicial officers.
He also said that the state government has approved the purchase of new vehicles for the newly appointed judges and khadis, as well the deficit left by the immediate past administration.
The seven High Court judges sworn in were Mariya Haruna Dagon Daji, Hadiza Sahabi Jaredi, Shuaibu Ahmed, Fatima Hassan, Fatima Saidu Muhammed, Nura Muhammad Bello and Abubakar Moyi.
The Khadis included Abdulaziz Muhammad Yar’Abba, Abubakar Lawal, Ibrahim Bello Sokoto, Bello Iman Abubakar, Lawal Muhammad Abibu, Umar Ibrahim Bodinga and Umar Kabir Marnona.