Niger gets female acting chief judge, as Governor laments release of alleged bandits without trial

Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has called on the Judiciary to help in the fight against banditry and other related crimes in the State.

At the valedictory court session in honour of Justice Aliyu Mohammed Mayaki, the immediate past Chief Judge of the State and the swearing-in of the new Acting Chief Judge of the State, Justice Aisha Lami Bwari at the High Court Minna, the state’s helmsman noted with dismay the arrest and release of some suspected bandits within a short period of time without trial after the collaborative efforts of kocals and the security agents towards apprehending them.

He said the released suspected bandits usually go back and unleash mayhem on the locals that are helping the security agents with useful information on their banditry activities. 

The Governor believed that the Judiciary has a role to play in ensuring that all arrested suspets especially as regards to Banditry, come under trial which will encourage the people not to conceal vital security information to the relevant authority for fear of possible attacks by the bandits.

Governor Sani Bello says his administration is committed to granting full financial autonomy to the judiciary.

He said as soon as the modalities of the financial autonomy are worked out his administration is ready to give the Judiciary full autonomy.

He noted that his administration is witnessing about the fourth transition in the Judiciary leadership assuring Justice Aisha Lami Bwari of his administration’s continued support to the judiciary to ensure her success.

He said the welfare of the judiciary and good working environment of the staff will continue to remain a priority even as it has since commenced the renovation works in many of the Magistrates and Sharia Courts, maintaining that it will be sustained.

Reiterating his committment to making the Judiciary function efficiently and effectively, he decried the level of delapidation of courts facilities especially at the rural areas calling on all concerned to take necessary action to change the narrative.

Speaking after her swearing-in, Justice Aisha said that her leadership would focus on infrastructure development especially through the utilization of vast land in the judiciary complex to provide more office accommodation..

She maintained that Infrastructure is key in ensuring quick dispensation of justice.

In his remarks, the retired Chief Judge, Justice Aliyu Muhammad Mayaki commended the administration of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello for granting the Judiciary partial autonomy as well as for the support and financial backing given to the Judiciary to enable it record more successes in the areas of training, staff welfare, provision of e-research materials and infrastructural development, among others which he said has enhanced justice delivery in the state.

Justice Aliyu Mayaki however called on the attention of the state government to some of the challenges faced by the Judicial arm of government which he said include financial constraints, backlog of cases, official vehicles and payment of promotion arrears and implementation of promotions and annual medical allowances.