By Correspondent in Minna.
The Niger State Chief Judge, Justice Halima Abdulmalik, has warned an Upper Shariah Court Judge, Abbas Mohammed of Kpakungu Minna against professional misconduct which she said had contributed to the denting of the image of the state judicial sector.
The Chief Judge gave the warning while reacting to the Shariah Court Judge’s incarceration of a suspect in Correctional facility without any charge against him and also could not convincingly explain to her the offence committed by the suspect to warrant his incarceration,when contacted on the issue by some Journalists in Minna
Worried by what she described as unjustifiable incarceration of a suspectbby Saidu Kodi, Abdulmalik warned that her regime would continue to use the instrumentality of the judiciary to hammer on any errant judicial officer using his or her office to abuse the downtrodden in the state.
“I am worried by the insults and curses citizens heap on us on daily basis,particularly victims of subverted justice, who see us as being corrupt and bias.
"The judiciary is supposed to be the last hope of the common man, but can we ask ourselves, are we leaving up that expectation? Justice Halima rhetorically asked.
She said that days were gone when Magistrates, Judges and other judicial officers would use their offices to intimidate, harass and oppress the downtrodden.
“People no longer have confidence in us. "I will not accept that any longer,” she admonished.
She promised to use all the legal powers in her disposition,coupled with the laid down procedures to deal with any judicial officer engaged in unprofessional conduct in the course of discharge of his or her duties.
The Chief Judge said that the incarceration of a suspect, without trial, simply paints erroneous picture that there is no hope for the common man in the state judiciary under her very watch.
Justice Abdulmalik expressed concern that while she was busy trying her best possible to restore sanity to the judicial arm of governnent, "it is unfortunate that the attitude of the likes of Abbas is rather compounding the already battered image and must not be allowed unnoticed."
She said the conduct of the judge concerned, in keeping the suspect in detention for no known offence against him," is like playing Pharaoh over him", warning that "this must not be allowed to continue”.
"It will no longer be business as usual as those who abuse their office for personal gains will pay dearly,because I am determined to end all forms of tyranny among judicial officers," she stressed.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
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