Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has charged judicial officials in the state on the need to remain upright while discharging their responsibilities.
Engineer Sule made the call shortly after swearing-in additional four new high court judges, at a ceremony which held at the late Aliyu Akwe Doma Banquet Hall, on Tuesday.
The governor urged judicial officials to continue to uphold the values and ethics of their calling, as well as to see their appointments as a call to serve the people with diligence, patriotism, transparency, accountability and above all, the fear of God.
He emphasized that, considering the critical role being played by the judiciary in the society, his administration has continued to accord priority attention to this important organ of government, with the swearing-in of the new high court judges being fulfilment of relevant constitutional provisions, geared towards ensuring sanity and stability in the judiciary.
According to the Governor, since the advent of his administration, a total of 9 high court judges, including the Four just inaugurated, have so far being sworn-in, with government sparing no time to fill in vacancies due to retirement or elevation of some senior officers.
Engineer Sule added that his administration has committed enormous resources towards developing the judiciary, ensuring that only right calibre of judges are appointed, providing essential working facilities, including construction, renovation and equipping high courts, magistrate courts and area courts across the state.
“The administration can fund the judiciary as much as we wish. The reality is that if we do not have the right people to implement the requirements, it will not be done,” he stated.
He therefore appreciated the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Aisha Bashir and her management for ensuring judicious use of resources earmarked for the judiciary.
While congratulating the newly sworn-in high court judges, the governor further charged them to justify the trust and confidence reposed in them.
Engineer Sule thereafter presented each of the new high court judge with a brand new official car.
Earlier, in an opening remarks, state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Associate Professor Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana, said the appointment of additional high court judges became necessary in order to facilitate the decongestion of courts.
Barrister Kana explained that, last year, the state government, through the state Judicial Service Commission, approached the National Judicial Commission, to request for the appointment of additional judges.
He added that, out of the initial six qualified applicants presented, the NJC approved four successful candidate instead of the initial three.
According to the justice commissioner, the feat is attributed to the superlative performance of the candidates, as well as the high ranking of the state government’s funding and taking care of welfare of staff of the judiciary.
Associate Professor Kana said, the sterling performance of the Chief Judge of the state, Hon Justice Aisha Bashir, also facilitated the decision of the NJC to approve for the appointment of four new high court judges.
The four newly sworn-in high court judges are, Mr. Isa Ebini Kana, Mr. Ali Tari Changbo, Mr. Abdullahi Hassan Sham Shama and Mr. Solomon Wayidna Ayenajeh.
In a vote of thanks, Hon Justice Isa Ebina Kana, thanked the governor, as well as the state chief judge, for finding them worthy of the appointment.
