The Magistrates in Bauchi state, on Wednesday, lamented the poor condition of service for members under which they operated.
Abdulmumini Adamu, the Chairman, Magistrates Association of Nigeria (MAN), Bauchi state chapter, made this known during a two-day of the association’s New Year Celebration with the Theme ‘Enhancing Justice Delivery and Administration in Bauchi State’.
According to him, the Magistrates in the state were compelled to board commercial vehicles along with litigants and other commuters, which, he said, has been exposing them to risk and subjecting the magistracy to ridicule.
“We are referred to as resident Magistrates but without official residence or quarters in our respective duty posts.
“In the area of training and retraining, magistrates in this jurisdiction are lagging behind if comparison is to be made with other jurisdictions due lack of sponsorship.
“The dynamic nature of law demands for mandatory, continued legal education and others like workshops, seminars and conferences where topical legal issues are discussed.
“The last term Magistrates were sponsored by the State government to attend the NBA conference and National Judicial Institute was in 2018 except by zoom or online,” he said.
The Chairman, who called on the state government to look into the matter and enhance the condition of service of the state’s magistrates, lauded Gov. Bala Mohammed for assenting to the financial autonomy bill which guaranteed the independence of the judiciary in the state.
He, however, stated that since the law came into force in August, 2022, the judiciary is yet to feel its impact.
The Chairman also lamented that their take-home pay could not accommodate self-sponsorship, thereby, subjecting members to professional stagnation.
This, he said, was militating against the effective functioning of the judiciary and by extension hampers justice delivery and administration in the state.
“This is perilous. It renders the judicial system susceptible to corruption and the monetization of access to justice making Justice for the highest bidder God forbid”. He said.
Also, Bauchi State Chief Judge, Rabi Umar, cautioned magistrates to be just, fair and upright in the dispensation of justice in their respective courts.
She added that any magistrate found to be disrupting the sanctity of the judicial system will not be spared as disciplinary measures will be applied accordingly.
Represented by Justice Mu’azu Abubakar, the CJ also commended the leadership of Magistrates’ Association of Nigeria in the state, for their commitment and dedication to their calling, urging them to brace up for the new year which comes with the Nation’s general elections.