ALMOST ONE YEAR AFTER THEIR APPOINTMENTS, MAGISTRATES STILL TREK TO COURTS IN AKWA IBOM STATE
By Ndi Aquaisua Esq.


On the 3rd day of February, 2020, the Akwa Ibom State Government sworn in nine (9) legal luminaries to serve as Magistrates in the State Judicial Service Commission. The joy of their appointments overwhelmed the state and most especially the legal world but however, a year after their appointments, assessment of their treatment becomes necessary.

It is very embarrassing and shameful that Akwa Ibom State being the highest producer of oil and one of the states receiving the highest federally allocated revenue from the Federal Government is still parading Magistrates who trek to courts and also regularly use tricycles popularly known as Keke Napep to courts. It's most appalling and a terrible sight to behold when you are within the Magistrate Court premises in Akwa Ibom State and see Clerks of Courts rushing out to welcome their respective Magistrates who just arrived the premises with Keke Napeps. The dignity and reputation of the rank have been put to jeopardy.

The Judiciary they say is the last hope of a common man in the society. When the Judiciary is neglected, intimidated, sidelined and bullied by the other arms of Government especially by the Executive arm of Government, there will be no justice. When there is no justice, there is no peace. When there is no peace, there is no love in the State and the Country at large. The common man in the society will be at the receiving end of it.

Vehicles have not been allocated to newly appointed Magistrates ever since they came onboard almost a year ago. Even some of the cars allocated to the old Magistrates have been involved in accidents while some have suffered wear and tear and have since been parked accordingly. They come to Courts with private arrangements.

If the Judiciary were to be financially independent and autonomous as provided by the relevant Laws of the land, there is no way vehicles and other necessary demands would not have been provided for judicial Officers in the State.

The Court rooms are few and the few that we have are dilapidated with leaking roofs. Due to lack of Court rooms for Magistrates in the State, we now have morning and afternoon Courts in Akwa Ibom State. When one Magistrate sits and rises, another one takes over immediately. This will no doubt, constitute setback and hindrance to Justice delivery in the State and has also affected the preparedness of lawyers and their clients who wait for them to return from court.

Inviting investors into the State and making frantic efforts to industralize the State by constructing factories, industries, good road networks etc and at the same time neglecting the Judiciary in the State is nothing but an own goal by the Akwa Ibom State Government.

When the Judiciary is neglected, sidelined, intimidated, bullied and her activities unduly interfered with by members of the other arms of Government within the State, investors will run away and those making plans to come into the State to invest will be scared to do so.

Magistrates asides from being members of the Judiciary, are also human beings and must be treated like human beings that they are. They deserve good welfare packages. After all, if Local Government Chairmen in the State whose highest academic requirement to occupy the seat is Senior School Certificate or its equivalent could be given brand new Toyota Prado Jeeps to drive, I do not see why our Learned Magistrates who have passed through the University, Law School and have undergone the mandatory NYSC program cannot be given same to drive. Maybe because they do not sing praises of the State Government and grant press interviews. Maybe they are seen as too poor and will be unable to maintain a Toyota Prado jeep like the Local Government Chairmen and other political appointees in the State whose only duty is to align and realign with the State Government and also sing praises of same.

His Excellency, Governor Nyesome Wike of Rivers State while delivering vehicles to Judicial Officers in his state said, _"We must equally endeavour to provide the best working conditions; including functional operational vehicles; adequate remuneration; security and conducive accommodation in a serene environment to each and every one of them”._

Our Magistrates are dying in silence and it is on this backdrop that I call on the Akwa Ibom State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel to look into the plight of Magistrates in the State by providing them with Cars, accomodations, adequate Court rooms and other welfare packages so as to encourage and motivate them to carry on their work effectively in delivering Justice in the State.


Written by:
Ndi Aquaisua Esq.
Uyo Based Legal Practitioner



https://legaldeskng.com/aalmost-one-year-after-their-appointmentsmagistrates-still-trek-to-courts-in-akwa-ibom-state-by-ndi-aquaisua-esq/

This country na wa

-igbere TV reports

ODEWALE ADESOYE

Damn Nigarrrr

This is a big shame to the State Government

Lalasticlala and other Mods, please take this post to front page

Wike don dey open people eyes

Should they fly to court before?
Abi dem forbid dem to enter uber
Orishirishi

The executive has too much power which is intoxicating their head.

youngsahito:
The executive has too much power which is intoxicating their head.

You've just nailed it.

Keke no dey?

youngsahito:
The executive has too much power which is intoxicating their head.

But Wike bought for magistrates in Rivers State and some were blaming and cursing him.

I support that the judiciary must have it's own budget and be independent of the other arms of government.

okada no dey

This country is screwing everybody one way or another sha.