The Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Nasir Ajanah, has called on the federal government to allow the judiciary be financially independent. Ajanah made the call while speaking at the opening ceremony of Towards Enhancing a Better Administration of Justice in Area Court System in Lokoja, a two-day seminar organised by the state’s chapter of the Inspectors and Area Court Judges Association (IACJA) for its members.
Ajanah stated that there would be better remunerations and improved welfare for judicial officers and ancillary staff of the third arm of government once the judiciary has financial autonomy.
And disclosing that the state judiciary would soon establish more area courts to handle community- related cases and bring justice closer to the people, he decried the level of corruption at the lower courts and urged the inspectors and area court judges to have zero tolerance for corruption or be ready to leave the judiciary.
Also speaking at the event, president of the association, Ben Adejoh Esq, admitted to the existence of corruption in the judiciary. He however said that it has been drastically reduced since the establishment of the association in 2008.
