Judiciary financial autonomy not operational in 34 states -NBA

    
The Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin branch, Mr. Mobolaji Ojibara, has said that 34 out of the 36 states in Nigeria had yet to implement financial autonomy for the judiciary.

According to him only Bayelsa and Nassarawa states have ensured financial autonomy for their judiciary.

He spoke in Ilorin on Monday at a media conference for the biennial Law Week of the branch.

He decried lack of financial autonomy and full self-accounting status for the judiciary.

According to him, lack of judicial financial autonomy is inimical to dispensation of justice and efficiency of judiciary.

“It is not only the judiciary of Kwara State that is not financially independent.

“Virtually all the states in the federation except Bayelsa and Nassarawa states are not financially independent,” he said.

Ojibara said the efforts of the National Judicial Council and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muktar Aloma to rid the judiciary of corruption was yielding results.

He called on all stakeholders to support efforts to rid the judicial and the entire nation of corruption.

The NBA boss commended Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed for assisting judicial officers in the state in the discharge of their functions.

“The bar extols with great admiration the cordial relationship amongst the various arms of government in the state, and particularly the continued support the governor has consistently offered to the judiciary.

“We urge the governor to take bold step by securing the independence of the state judiciary through granting to it financial autonomy and a full self-accounting status.

“The bar reiterates that it is only the existence of a virile, fearless and independent judiciary that can guarantee a lasting democratic government and the maintenance of law and order in the state,” Ojibara said.