Lawyer raises alarm over corruption in Bauchi State Judicial system

Governor Bala Mohammed

From Paul Orude Bauchi

A legal practitioner Barrister Muhammad Alkassim, has raised the alarm over the high level of corruption in the judicial system in Bauchi State.

This was contained in an open letter he wrote to Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, made available to Metoric Post in Bauchi, on Monday.

In the letter, the lawyer appealed to Governor Mohammed to immediately intervene to save the judiciary as the last hope of the common person from imminent collapse.

Alkassim drew the attention of the governor to the allegation that the state judicial system was corrupt and at the verge of crossing the red line of justice.

“It is worthy to note that, misplacement of priority among some heads of Courts in the State has affected the performance of junior and senior staff including judges and Khadis of the State,” he stated.

“Our courts buildings are not something to write home about compared to Jigawa State as a case of reference.

“The welfare of the judiciary is cardinal in the fight against corruption.

“The recent outcry of the general public in the affairs of the State judiciary spurred me of my constitutional responsibilities in the administration of justice in our dear state, Bauchi.

“The judiciary as an integral component of any successful government is titanic and cannot be seen to disappear in an ocean of bad practice, corruption and injustice”

The legal practitioner advised the governor set up an independent Judicial Investigation Committee to probe recent nominations of Judges of High Court and Khadis of Shariah Court of Appeal by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in the state.

The letter was copied to the Chairman of the JSC, the Grand Khadi of Sharia Court of Appeal, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association, the commissioner of Police, and the Director State Security Service.

“It could be recalled that on the 23rd day of November,2023 the Judicial Service Commission, Bauchi State held its meeting sequel to the publication dated 19th October,2023  and  called for the nominations of five Judges of  High Court and five Kadis of Sharia Court of Appeal,” the letter disclosed

“The recent release of names of the nominees by the JSC,Bauchi  on the 24th November,2023 in a letter with ref no: BAS/JSC/S/ADM/91 drew the attention of the general public, elites, civil societies, lawyers and well-wishers of Bauchi State over what they termed as injustice”

The legal practitioner  however expressed confidence in the  competency of the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to properly advise the governor.

“He has reached the zenith in the legal profession with a highly decorative prestigious rank in the professional ladder,” he said.

“It is my belief that good use of the State Attorney’s Office will help in the administration of Justice in State.

“I urge His Excellency the Governor to make good use of the State Attorneys.

“I write with passionate voice to draw your attention on the need to seek legal advice from the Office of the State Attorneys and other stakeholders in the administration of justice in Bauchi State.

“The office of the Attorney General of the State is constitutional one and regarded as the Chief Law officer the state pursuance to section 195(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic”

Barrister Alkassim advised the governor to initiate judicial and law reforms in view of the vice of corruption and other problems bedeviling the judiciary in the state.

“Let me make a special plea for the completion of the abandoned project of the Magistrate Court Complex situate at the Bauchi State High Court Complex,” he said.

“The described project has been abandoned for more than five years. If others have not  done it, why not you”