By Scholastica Joseph, Makurdi
Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, has again called for autonomy for the judiciary to enable it uphold the rule of law dispassionately.
Governor Ortom made this call, Thursday, at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi, during the swearing-in ceremony of three newly appointed High Court judges in the state judiciary.
The judges; Justice Felicia Ikyegh, Justice John Shishi and Justice Gabriel Omale, were appointed following the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, NJC.
At the swearing in, Ortom said, “I wish to use this occasion to again stress my total support not only for the financial Autonomy but complete autonomy for the judiciary.
“To this end, I wish to recommended that all entitlements due to the judiciary should be deducted at source from the Federation Account and remitted directly to the heads of courts for onward payment to judicial staff.”
He further specified that “all matters of welfare of judicial staff; salary, pension and gratuity, should, henceforth, be handled by the NJC.
“This I believe has become necessary for the smooth and effective operations of the judiciary in a democratic setting.”
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s policy of non-interference in the affairs of the judiciary, saying to strengthen the policy, he assented to the Benue Judiciary Fund Management, Financial Autonomy, Law, 2021 to enable the state judiciary perform its duties inline with the rule of law.
Ortom, who ranked the Benue State judiciary as one of the best in justice dispensation in the country, lamented that they were bedeviled with gross deficit in infrastructure, ranging from poor court room facilities to dilapidated residential accommodation for judicial officers and lack of other basic amenities required for the smooth running of the offices.
He expressed delight that his administration has been able to renovate and furnish judges chambers, high courts and other lower courts across the state as well as construction of a new high court complex at Aliade and other courts ranging from upper area courts, chief magistrate courts and area courts across the state to provide easy access to justice to the citizenry.
He congratulated the new judges, saying their appointments were based on sound knowledge of the law and positive character and charged them to remain above board and shun temptation to pervert justice in the discharge of their duties.
Responding on behalf of the newly sworn-in judges, Justice Felicia Ikyegh, expressed gratitude to God and thanked the governor for appointing them on the endorsement of the NJC.
