By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja
The dream of the Kogi State Judiciary is to ensure speedy, efficient and effective administration of justice in the 2020/2021 Legal Year, according to the Acting Chief Judge of the State, Justice Henry Olusiyi.
Olusiyi,who stated this at the Special Court Session to unfold the new Legal Year on Monday in Lokoja, said that the resolve was based on the fact that, “Justice delayed” might sometimes be Justice denied.”
He said that it was also based on the realisation that, “Justice rushed” could also result in “Justice crushed”, added that the Judiciary would strive, always, to strike a balance between the two possibilities.
The jurist promised that the state judiciary would also introduce mechanisms to “fast-track” proceedings and ensure that cases, especially criminal ones, were not delayed.
“We shall ensure that our correctional centres are decongested. Efforts will be geared toward the automation of our court processes for quick, efficient and effective Justice delivery.
“Not only should the beginning of a case been known, the end of it should also been known. The right to speedy trial is the essence of Justice.
“In the new Legal Year, we shall, by the grace of God, make our courts to accelerate the delivery of Justice and reduce the pendency of cases in courts.
“The idea of filing cases in court without knowing when they will be concluded will soon be consigned to the dustbin of history in the Kogi State Judiciary”, he said.
Giving a panoramic review of the 2019/2020 Legal Year, the Acting Chief Judge said that the courts disposed a good number of cases filed during the period of COVID-19 Pandemic lockdown.
He added that in the Probate Registry, 672 applications for Letters of Administration were filed out of which 523 were granted, adding that the long-pending issue of staff promotion was being vigorously addressed.
Gov. Yahaya Bello, in his remarks, said that he subscribed to the dictum that the “Judiciary is the last hope of the common man”, adding that his administration had ensured complete Separation of Powers among the arms since inception.
Bello who was represented by his deputy, Chief Edward Onoja, said his administration would not tolerate meddlesome, pledged continued support to the Judiciary and wished the Bar and the Bench, a happier and more prosperous new legal year.
The Reporters,an online publication, reports that the Attorney-General of the state, Ibrahim Mohammed (SAN) and representatives of the Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) among others graced the occasion.
