=Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has urged top jurists and legal luminaries in the state to observe only the letter and spirit of the law and shun any invitation or temptation to be swayed by parochial considerations of whatever nature while discharging their duties.
Bello gave the charge on Monday in Lokoja in his address to the Kogi State Judiciary on the occasion of the opening of its 2020/2021 Legal Year.
According to him, tyranny can only thrive in a society when the lawyers and the courts either collude with it; intimidated by it or become indifferent to it.
“Fortunately, we have a Judiciary and a legal profession in Nigeria which have acquitted themselves with courageous activism under some of the worst military dictatorships known to modern history. I have no doubt at all they will continue to do so in the service of our democracy”, he said.
He said his administration has closely observed the principle of separation of powers amongst the three arms of government and ensured adherence to due process as enshrined in the laws as a means to strengthen checks and balances in governance.
“Our relationship with the Kogi State Judiciary has remained solidly cordial. As much as possible, we have practiced financial and administrative autonomy, and we have not sought to interfere with the discharge of the Judicial functions in any way.
“The commitment of my administration to providing vehicles and other working tools for Judges and the Judiciary in general has remained unflagging.
“Our readiness to constantly improve the work environment for the Judiciary through construction of roads, provision of water and other facilities/infrastructure within the courts has been demonstrated again and again.
“We have also shown great fidelity in payment of salaries and other recurrent emoluments for our judicial staff and officers. Any shortcoming on our part can only be traced to financial constraints and inadequacy of resources, never to a lack of the political will or the goodwill to act as appropriate.
“Going forward, we shall continue to move mountains to ensure that the Kogi State Judiciary is not hindered in any way from giving her best to the administration of justice.
“The Bar in Kogi State can also testify that we have remained respectful of their professional rights. I have never ordered the arrest of any legal practitioner for doing his job.
“It has not crossed our minds to detain or denounce any lawyer, whether we agree with his position or not. Our able Attorney-General, a consummate Bar man himself, and our other team members in government who are legal practitioners have been careful to lead us into respectful mutualities with the Bar,” he said.
He said as part of his commitment to providing conducive atmosphere for Judiciary in the state, he has provided vehicles for judges and contributed to building and other projects when invited to do so by NBA chapters in the state.
“We have also continued to maintain a deliberate policy of patronising lawyers practicing in Kogi State with government briefs. We shall continue to make our modest contributions to the growth and wellbeing of our Bar branches.
“I am not only sworn to protect the rule of law, but I am also intensely protective of our sovereignty as a people and nation”, he said.
The governor however warned that his administration would not tolerate any unnecessary meddlesomeness in the internal affairs of the state by any individual or group.
“While we appreciate partnerships that deepen our democratic culture we must not tolerate meddlesomeness in our internal affairs, particularly those that assault and fray our social connection and cohesion, whether at state or federal level.
“This, and nothing more or less, informed my recent letter of protest to the United States of America through her Embassy in Nigeria.
“If our Judiciary at the highest levels have decided that our elections are in substantial compliance with our laws, it is incumbent on all external actors to refrain from taking unilateral actions which might contradict or otherwise embarrass her, moreso when such actors operate without public accountability or transparency.”
