Bauchi Gov condemns personal attacks on Chief Judge

Hon Justice Rabi Talatu Umar, Chief Judge of Bauchi State

From Paul Orude Bauchi
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has expressed concern over the spate of rumour and name calling against the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar.

Mohammed made this known at the occasion of the 2023/2024 Legal Year ceremony in Bauchi, on Wednesday, calling for an end to mudslinging against the judge and her leadership of the state judiciary.

“I really sympatise with her for the spate of rumour and name calling that is prevailing in the judiciary,” he stated.

“It is unbecoming of the judiciary because you are gentlemen and we know that we look up to you for values and best attributes in life.

“The Honourable justice has suffered so much on mudsling, rumour and all these kind of bad attributes.

“I think we can call it a day and give her the opportunity to continue to serve her”

The governor stated that there had been tremendous improvement, development and positive changes within a short time in the judiciary under the “purposeful leadership of the Chief Judge Rabi Talatu Umar”

“We are always proud of her because she has always been recognised even by the National Judicial Council by my Lord the Chief justice of Nigeria as she is being given one assignment or the other”

He admitted that the synergy between the executive and the judiciary under his leadership and Umar’s had been encouraging and commendable saying it was key to the various development that abound in the judiciary because of its international best practice.

Governor Mohammed assured that his administration would continue to collaborate with the judiciary under her leadership to further enhance speedy dispensation of justice.
In her speech shortly before declaring the legal year open, the Chief Judge explained that she had faced unwarranted criticisms in the course of carrying out her assignment.

She explained that she been accused of sidelining a particular religion in appointments of judicial officers at the federal judiciary that includes the Federal High court, National Industrial Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

“The instance process of appointing five judges of the High Court and five khadis of the Shariah court of Appeal commenced few weeks ago in accordance with the provision of the extant laws and rules but the commission came under heavy criticisms that were unfounded,” she revealed.

“We were accused of sidelining of another religion in the process of appointment under the consideration.

“There are vacancies of High Court, one each was shortlisted from the official and private bar, three from the magistrate for the preferred list.

“There is naturally no possibility that all the 44 High Court applicants will be shortlisted for a vacancy of five.
“Those in the private and official bar have the opportunity and advantage of aspiring also to the elevated rank of Senor Advocate of Nigeria.

“Unlike the magistrate who chose to remain on the line for decades aspiring to be elevated to the higher bench. This calls for commendation and not condemnation”
The Chief Judge admonished that, “There are civilized and lawful ways of channeling grievances to appropriate authorities with constitution mandate to entertain such complaints but to resort to newspaper, social media and other forms of crude illegal means of misrepresenting facts and misleading the public, is most unfortunate”