The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar has blamed the poor conditions of service of judges and the deplorable state of courts in the country on state governors.
According to her, governors are fond of not obeying the constitution. She also said that she was aware that judges of the lower courts in many states were working under horrible conditions.
She made the comment at the opening of the 2014 Conference of All Nigeria Judges of the Lower Courts organized by the National Judicial Institute (NJI).
While these problems are existent, Mukhtar appealed to judges and magistrates in the country not to use it as an excuse to perpetrate fraud or indulge in other dishonest dealings.
“Some customary and area courts sit in rented apartments. I am also aware that in some states, courts have been closed down due to political squabbles among politicians. I have heard of stories of magistrates being abducted and in many cases murdered by unknown persons due to lack of security. All these factors are so debilitating on the performance of judicial functions,” the CJN noted.
Justice Mukhtar is expected to leave office on November 20 when she will clock the retirement age of 70 years. Justice Mohammed Mahmud, the most senior justice of the Supreme Court has been lined up as her successor. He will appear before the Senate on Tuesday for screening.
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