By Kayode Adeoti and Abiodun Bolujoko
For quite a while, the Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has been going round the state on what he described as facilities tour.
The aim of the inspection tours to government owned facilities is to personally assess their conditions with view to making amendments where necessary.
His mission was not different on Tuesday when he paid what many people described as unscheduled visit to the state judiciary. The governor who had in his entourage the Speaker, House of Assembly, Hon. Yakubu Danladi, the Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye among others, arrived the state High Court complex at about 2:30pm.
In a meeting that that lasted for about four minutes in the CJ’s office, the helmsman of the judiciary alongside his lieutenants, seized the opportunity to avail the governor with some of the challenges confronting the ministry.
Shortly thereafter, the governor was led by the CJ to Magistrate Court 9 and the High Court complex where he assessed the Library, High Court 1, Justice Adewara’s clerk room and some other departments in the judiciary.
Also visited was the Sharia Court of Appeal, where the Chief Registrar of the Islamic court, Alhaja Laperi Mustapha reeled out problems confronting the sector.
Laperi said the registries of the Court of Appeal located in Baruten, Kaiama, Omu- Aran, Offa and other places outside the state capital are nothing to write home about, saying that the facilities are in deplorable state begging for urgent attention.
Laperi urged the governor to as a matter of urgency and importance prioritise the welfare of the Khadis whom she said were recently appointed to enhance better dispensation of justice.
She complained that since the judicial officers were promoted to the bench cadre, they’ve not been given official cars, saying busses that would have been conveying the Khadis were long grounded.
“Many of the court rooms are leaking, when rain falls, we encounter so much uneasiness, but just managing the situation. Furniture is also one major issue that is casting doubt on the integrity of the legal house, we don’t have enough at all.
“Recently, Khadis were appointed to aide the smooth dispensation of justice but it’s a pity, those Khadis are yet to be given official vehicles. Our buses are grounded and pilot vehicles are not working,” the Chief Registrar stated.
In a short meeting with the CJ, the governor insisted on having on-the-spot appraisal of the Sango magistrate court that was razed by inferno last year.
While speaking with journalists during the tour of the judiciary facilities within Ilorin metropolis, Abdulrazaq said the rots were so much and needed proper planning spanning multiple budget years to fix.
“I have come to see things for myself. We have always known that the rot is unimaginable. But it is important that I see things for myself,” he told reporters during his visit to the magistrate court at Sango in Ilorin, the state capital, which had long collapsed.
“I have seen things for myself and I have asked the Chief Judge (and his team) to raise a memo, stating what the problems are and what we can do to solve ,them in short and long term.”
AbdulRazaq said he would ensure that the judiciary is given the support it needed to function as an independent arm of government.
Chief Judge of the State told the Governor he had long prepared a report detailing the problems facing the sector, especially the decrepit state of the facilities and lack of any modern courtrooms.
“I will soon forward the report to you and I trust that you will do your best to address the problems,” he said when the Governor visited his office.
Meanwhile, the governor’s tour, has been generating lots of debates among members of the public especially the legal practitioners.
The visit, according to some lawyers, will bring good fortune to the legal sector which was said has suffered long neglect.
Barrister Ayinla Salman Jawondo who spoke with this medium on the visit described it has a good development coming at the right time.
In his reaction, Dr Folorunsho Ahmad Hussein said hope that the visit would bring about turnaround in the sector.
“It is marvellous, good move, signifying the good intent of the governor to work. Visiting Sango Court and centre Igboro is a good sign of commitment. But, there are more places the governor needed to visit within the judiciary.
“To be specific, the magistrate court within the headquarters where rooms of 12/12 feets are used as court rooms, shared by 3 to 4 magistrates including the Chief Magistrate.
“Scenarios in this court during sittings is usually highly embarrassing wherein, the distance between the Judge and the accused is not up to five feet. ”
The Legal Practitioner then made case for welfare of members of the bench, whom he said deserves better treatment.
“Lastly, the welfare of our lower Court Judges and Magistrates should be of paramount interest to the present administration. They are suffering unlike their colleagues in other states.”
