State’s judiciary financial independence critical for dispensation of justice

The Senate, on Tuesday, expressed hope that the recent granting of financial independence to state judiciaries by the Executive would aid the rapid dispensation of justice across the country.

Chairman Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, stated this during the screening of the Executive Secretary-designate of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Anthony Ojukwu (SAN) for another term in office.

The committee also screened Justice Lawal Stanley as President-designate, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Customary Court of Appeal.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had, on Friday, March 27, assented to 16 out of the 35 Constitution amendment bills.

Out of the 16 bills was Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No 6 to Provide for the Financial Independence of State Houses of Assembly and State Judiciary and for Related Matters.

Bamidele said that the signing of fiscal autonomy for state judiciary would aid the rapid dispensation of justice at the state level and help decongest cases being handled at the State level.

Bamidele said: “Fiscal autonomy of state judiciary will have a direct impact on operations of the judiciary at the state levels, especially in the decongestion of awaiting trials.

Speaking on the just concluded elections across Nigeria, he added, “Even though a myriad of challenges were encountered in the course of the electoral process, we believe that the country will come back stronger than ever before.

“We may not have had perfect elections. However, there is a lot to learn from what transpired that will serve as guard posts to the country in our subsequent elections.”