Hon.Justice Josiah Majebi,Acting Chief Judge of Kogi state.
By Correspondent in Lokoja.
The Acting Chief Judge of Kogi State,Hon. Justice Josiah Majebi,has announce the establishment of a Public Complaints Unit of the High Court,imbued with whistleblowing mechanisms.
Justice Majebi made the announcement in Lokoja during an interactive session he held with the Magistrates at the Judiciary headquarters in Lokoja, the state capital.
He said the establishment of the unit was informed by the need to accommodate public view of the Judiciary and deal with complaints arising from the performance of lower courts in the state.
The Acting Chief Judge, therefore, urged the Magistrates and Judges of lower courts in the state,as well as other staff to shun corruption.
“We have decided to set up Public Complaints Unit and give out phone numbers and let the public be aware that, any of our Magistrates and Area Court Judges involved in corruption can be reported through that process.
“So we are encouraging whistleblowing and you don’t need to turn or work against it, if you do what is right at the right time.
” You therefore need to be vigilant to know what is happening in your courts” he stressed.
The Acting Chief Judge,who condemned corrupt practices, he said the Council of Judges had critically evaluated the negative effect of the menace on the integrity of institutions in the country and arrived at the conclusion that urgent measures must be taken not to allow it to fester in the state‘s Judiciary.
” Hence, the Council would not hesitate at sanctioning any Judicial Officer or supporting staff of the court when found wanting in that regard as the public would be encouraged to maximize the opportunity provided by the whistleblowing window to expose errant ones,” he earned
Justice Majebi, however,told the Magistrates that very soon,they would begin to enjoy a new lease of life, adding that the Governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, was on the verge of changing their fortunes for the better.
He further disclosed that feelers from the executive arm of governnent indicated that relevant documents submitted to governor Bello, detailing the needs of the Magistrates,were already receiving desired attention, assuring the Magistrates that the results would soon manifest in their improved working conditions.
On the High Court,Justice Majebi explained that the enormity of the financial requirements of the High Court of Justice ecosystem remained high, pointing out that it had been presented to the governor for which a commitment had been made.
According to him, unlike other courts, the High Court has 274 courts spread across the state which requires that a more deliverable attention be paid to it.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
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