- * Says Actions Of The Islamic Judge Denting Image Of The Judiciary
By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
The Niger State Chief Judge, Justice Halima Abdulmalik, has cautioned an Upper Shariah Court Judge, Abbas Mohammed of Kpakungu Minna, against alleged professional misconduct which she said has contributed to the already dented image of the state’s judicial sector.
The Chief Judge was reacting to the Shariah Court Judge’s incarceration of a suspect in a Correctional facility without any charge against him. He also could not convincingly explain to the Chief Judge the offence committed by the suspect to warrant his incarceration.
Worried by the unjustifiable incarceration of the alleged suspect by the name, Saidu Kodi, Abdulmalik warned that her regime as the Chief Judge would continue to use the instrumentality of the judiciary to hammer on any errant judicial officers using his or her office to abuse the downtrodden.
“I am worried by the insults and curses citizens, particularly victims of subverted justice who see us as being corrupt and biased, heap on us on a daily basis. The judiciary is supposed to be the last hope of the common man, but can we ask ourselves, are we leaving up that expectations?, Justice Halima rhetorically asked.
Justice Halima Abdulmalik said, days were gone when Magistrates, Judges and other judicial officers would use their offices to intimidate, harass and oppress the downtrodden and the masses as they no longer have hope in the judiciary because perpetrators will be made to pay penalty for their sins.
“People no longer have confidence in us. I will not accept that any longer”, she lamented and promised to use all the legal powers in her disposition and the laid down procedures to deal with any judicial officer engaged in unprofessional conduct in the course of discharge of their duties.
Justice Halima described Abbas as someone trying to assume the status of ‘Pharaoh’, the Chief Judge said the unjust incarceration of a suspect without trial simply paint erroneous picture that there is no hope for the common man in the state judiciary under her very watch.
Regretting that while she is busy trying all possible best to restore sanity to the state judicial sector and give hope to the common man, it is unfortunate that the attitude of the likes of Abbas is rather compounding the already battered image of the judiciary and must not be allowed unnoticed.
“Your conduct, keeping this suspect in detention for no known offence against him is like playing Pharaoh over him and this must not be allowed to continue”, she declared, adding that it will no longer be business as usual as those who abuse their offices for personal gains will pay dearly because she is determined to end all forms of tyranny among judicial officers.
“Our names and integrity are in question because of people like you in the system. Nigerians, including Nigerlites have lost confidence in the judiciary. We are being insulted and cursed in towns, villages and everywhere, I am worried. The judiciary is being called all sorts of names because of the unprofessional conduct of your likes”. NNL.
