Judicial Officers, Administrators Tasked On Graft

PHOTO: JUSTICE DANIEL ABUTU.

ABUJA, July 19, (THEWILL) - Following increasing cases of corruption in the Nigerian judicial system, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Daniel Abutu today admonished Court Registrars, judicial officers and administrators to avoid corruptive tendencies in the discharge of their assignments.

The advice is coming a week after the Chief Justice of Nigeria [CJN], Justice Aloysius Iyorgher Katsina – Alu admitted that the judiciary is replete with corruption.

Justice Abutu who spoke at the commencement of a week-long seminar organized by the National Judicial Institute (NJI) said both the administrators and judicial officers were critical to the management and dispensation of justice in the country stating that they must imbibe the tenets of transparency and accountability.

"As the Chief Registrar, Director of Finance and Accounts of Administration and Director of Personnel Management of the Courts in which you are currently privileged to be serving your country, you are the managers of the resources of the Courts. In the management of both the human and material resources of the Courts, transparency and accountability should be your watchwords," he said.

"You should shun always arbitrariness, corruption or impunity. You should meticulously follow the rules and regulation guiding your operations for it is only by doing so that you can attain efficiency. Above all, let the fear of God and the love for your country and your fellow men control all your actions," he further stressed.

Justice Abutu applauded the NJI for organizing the workshop reasoning that, "It is intended to expose you all to recent measures development and best practices not only in the Nigerian Court System, but in all other Court systems around the world."

Administrator of NJI, Justice Umaru Eri who is the Chief Host of the event, described top Judicial officers and administrators as those who make things happen behind the scene, stressing that no Judge can operate effectively without their noble contributions.

He said training and re-training was essential to improve justice delivery, adding that "since these categories of officers play pivotal roles in the administration of Justice in this country", it is expected that they be "fair, open, transparent, honest and hardworking in their duties."

He said, "You are the indispensable gate keepers in the administration of justice and indeed, the oil that lubricates the engines of justice administration."