Abuja – Workers and lawyers at the FCT High Court have resumed duties after the Christmas and New year holidays, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
A NAN reporter who visited the two buildings of the FCT High Court, Wuse Zone 2 and Jabi respectively as well as the Senior Magistrate’s Court, Wuse, Zone 2, reports that workers were seen performing their normal duties.
A cross-section of the workers told NAN that they were refreshed and ready to drive the 2016/2017 legal year forward.
Mr Joel Akierigba, a private legal practitioner, said that he was in court on behalf of his of client who had been accused of fraud in his organisation.
“I have been here since and I am still waiting for the police to bring my client to the court.
“He had been accused of fraud and I am here to perform his functions.
“I believe they will all be here soon because I just received a call from one of them,’’ Akierigba said.
When asked what was his expectation for the 2016/2017 legal year, Akierigba said that he was expecting a robust judiciary.
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He called on all judges to be bolder in the discharge of their duties in order to have a profitable year.
“I expect a more robust judiciary in the spirit of the current government that is ready to fight corruption.
“ I expect the judiciar, which has a key role to play in the fight against corruption, to succeed.
“We should take up the challenge.’’
Akierigba also urged judges to give more effect to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act in the country.
He said there was need to domesticate the act and make it practicable in all the states in Nigeria, instead of concentrating its enforcement in the FCT and the Federal High Courts alone.
Also, Mr Migap Koka, a private lawyer, said he was in the court to file documents on a matter.
He called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) not to appoint judges on ground of sentiments.
According to him, judges should be selected from all spheres to promote the 2016/2017 legal year.
He also said that judges should be appointed from members in the bar and the academia, to attain a measure of balance in the nation’s judiciary system.
Koka also called for prompt payment of the remuneration of judiciary workers, adding that this would help speed up adjudication of cases.
Meanwhile, Mr Henry Obed, a Secretary in one of the courts, said that he was ready to put in his best in the New Year.
Mr Mohammed Tegina, another staff of the FCT High Court , said that staff in his own department had fully resumed work and were ready to move ahead on a positive note in 2016. (NAN)
