By: Uthman Baba-Sirajdeen, Minna
The Chief Judge of Niger State Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik had drawn the attention of the State Governor His Excellency Mohammed Umar Bago to the plight of some Magistrates who ply commercial vehicles with suspects and are exposed to dangers.
She stated this during the 2023 legal year .
She reminded the governor that his predecessor had some time in 2021 provided 37 vehicles to the Magistrate with the promise to provide those that do not have later , but couldn’t fulfill it before the expiration of his tenure.
“Your Excellency, I want to use this forum to remind you to provide them with the remaining vehicles. It will interest you to note that some of the Magistrates enter Public transport along with litigants appearing in their court which is undignified of them” the chief judge appealed.
In the same vein magistrates in the Service of the Niger State Judiciary raised an eyebrow over the practice where they ply same commercial vehicles with litigants and defendants standing trial in their courts saying it poses threat to them.
The Magistrates who have their courts outside the state headquarters and has to travel in commercial vehicles along side the litigants and defendants standing trial on Criminal related cases in their court said their life may not be safe, knowing fully well that the set of people see them as threat to their freedom and justice.
According to them governors in states, such as Nasarawa, Kebbi, Kogi, FCT and Zamfara states gave official vehicles to their magistrates to ease their movement and protect them from public exposures and danger.
These plea comes as a of the recent happenings in Niger state where three Magistrates who boarded commercial vehicles along side some suspected criminals who were facing trial in their courts were making geticulations which were highly embarrassing and putting serious fear of being attacked them.
The Magistrate who pleaded anonymity for Security reasons said,” my self and two of my colleagues boarded the same commercial vehicle along with a suspect that was arraigned in my court to attend a function. The suspect was able to recognize me as the Magistrate that tried him. He didn’t say anything but I wasn’t comfortable throughout the Journey”
The Magistrate said the former governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello donated thirty seven peugeot saloon cars to some Magistrates and Shariah Court Judges in 2021 with a promise to remaining Magistrates when more vehicles are purchased.
Speaking to newsspacing in a telephone conversation, the chairman Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Minna Branch Barrister Abdulkadir Mohammed Waziri, described the plight of the Magistrates boarding Public transport along with litigants as undignified of their position.
He said Magistrates in the state Judiciary deserve their own cars like what is obtained in other states of the Federation, stating that Niger state should not be exceptional.
“Magistrates in other parts of the country were provided with vehicles but our Magistrates In Niger State enter Public transport with suspects that appear in their courts which is very dangerous to the Magistrate.
” I’m appealing to both the Niger Chief Judge and the governor of Niger State to as a matter of necessity provide them with a vehicle to safeguard their lives” he asserted.
