BY UTHMAN BABA-SIRAJDEEN,MINNA
The Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik has charged Magistrates and Shari’a Court Judges that will preside over the Local council election petition tribunal in Niger State, to guide against any pressure that will influence their decisions while adjudicating into election matters.
Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik also warned them not to allow politicians or political interests to intimidate and pressurize them in the discharge of their judicial duties .
Addressing the participants at a one- day capacity- building workshop for Magistrates and Shari’a Court Judges that are to head election petition tribunal held at the conference room of the Niger State Judiciary headquarters in Minna, the Chief Judge advised them to guide against any act that will bring their professional integrity into the mud.
Justice Abdulmalik urged the participants to adhere strictly to the ethics and code of conduct of the judiciary throughout the period of their assignments.
She noted that as judicial officers that are guided with code of conduct and ethical practice the needs for “ you to be guided with the norms and the ethical of practices of judicial officers”
According to her, the essence of the workshop was to enable the judicial officers familiarize themselves with the processes and procedures of election petition matters, stressing the need for them to be guided by the doctrines of their profession.
She noted that election cases are time-bound and sensitive, hence the need to handle them with utmost diligence and integrity. The Chief Judge further cautioned participants against any act capable of undermining their integrity or that of the judiciary.
Justice Abdulmalik commended the Training and Education Committee of the judiciary for organizing the programme, describing it as a vital measure to refresh the knowledge and skills of judicial officers on election petition cases.
While urging the participants to keep rapt attention in the knowledge they will acquire from the training workshop, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik told them they to put their head together in arriving at given ruling on any election matter that is brought before them
In his welcome address, a member of the Training Committee, Justice Danladi Ahmed Baddegi, said the capacity-building workshop was aimed at equipping participants with the proper methods of conducting proceedings, issuing orders, and writing judgments, particularly in election-related matters.
He charged the participants to pay rapt attention to the lectures and discussions for effective service delivery.
