Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu said “access to justice is most fundamental to human civilization”.
Bagudu spoke at the Walima / Luncheon and Symposium organized by Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria ( MULAN) , Kebbi State chapter and Law Officers Association of Nigeria (LOAN) Kebbi State branch to celebrate the appointment of three High Court Judges and a Khadi .
” The ultimate design of the human society is to design it where everyone will feel included as well as have access to the economy.
“In Kebbi, focus is also on the prevention of crimes rather than prosecution,’ the governor added.
The Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum also pledged that his administration will continue to appoint more judicial officers.
He also promised to continue to adequately fund the judiciary in spite of limited resources available to the state government.
Bagudu also acknowledged that although lawyers are in high demand, most of them have decided to stay back in the state.
He stated that this sacrifice was really highly invaluable and the State Government would continue to appreciate such efforts.
He said that the judiciary and the NBA have been making tremendous contributions to the even development of the state.
Bagudu also noted that the judiciary and the NBA were making immense contributions to curbing the security challenges facing the State.
He promised to look into the possibility of solving the problems highlighted by the Associations.
They include improving their welfare, rehabilitating Infrastructure and the provision of housing, among others .
He pledged to continue to accord priority to trainings, workshops and conferences with a view to building the capacities of lawyers and other judicial officers.
Bagudu commended the associations for organizing the event and congratulated the celebrants.
He also applauded Judges, Khadis, Lawyers and the ministry of Justice, saying that he has confidence in the Judicial system of the State.
The Chief Judge of the State, Justice Suleiman Muhammad Ambursa said that Bagudu holds the judiciary and NBA in high esteem and respect in the State and Nigeria in general.
The CJ said that the celebrants have distinguished themselves and the associations did a great job by honouring them.
He acknowledged the extant cordial relationship between the state government and the judiciary.
He said that Kebbi State had in 2021 emerged as the second best in fast tracking cases in Nigeria.
He urged the celebrants to justify the confidence reposed in them in the discharge of their new assignments.
Earlier, the state Chairman of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Equity Chamber, Lawal Hudu-Garba, advocated the use of modern methods and techniques such as DNA, fingerprints and installation of CCTV cameras, among others.
“This will easily detect crimes. In fact, resort to forensic investigations can go along way to reverse the trend whereby hardened criminal get scot- free,” he advocated.
Hudu-Garba also advocated that well equipped forensic laboratories should be established in every local government areas.
Also speaking, the state Chairman, Muslim Lawyers Association (MULAN), Yusuf Hamza, expressed gratitude to the governor for the various assistance he had been rendering to so many Islamic Organisations in the state.
“We in MULAN wish to humbly request for a bus to assist us in travelling to national conferences and Da’awah activities,” he said.
On his part, the state Chairman of Law Officers Association of Nigeria (LOAN), Ahmad Rufai Aminu, thanked the governor for the increment of monthly cash allocation of the ministry, payment of annual bar practicing fees as at when due, among others.
He urged the governor to lift the embargo on employment to allow more counsel in the ministry, saying that many of their members had been elevated to the bench or deployed to other places and their number dwindled down.
“In as much as the association is suffering from the setback and.
dwindling number of its members, we must also at the same time celebrate the progression of our esteemed members,” Rufai-Aminu said.
Delivering his keynote address , the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Abubakar Zaki Lonzon represented by Barrister Bagudu Umar Abubakar, Director Litigation while congratulating the appointees also reminded them of the enormous task ahead of them.
He charged the appointees to always maintain Justice and stand by the truth in the discharge of their duties.
‘ Legal profession is honourable profession ,adjudicate fairly between parties ‘ he advised.
He thanked Governor Bagudu for his continuous support to the judiciary.
The NBA Chairman, representative of SANs and the Council of Ulama,Kebbi State delivered goodwill messages at the occasion.
