Lafia Emir Blames Judges for Relegating Power to Counsel

Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia

The Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage (rtd), yesterday blamed Judges in Nasararwa State for allowing counsel to usurp their powers.

Bage, who is a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, gave the culpability at the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) Access to Justice town hall meeting held in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

The monarch, who is the chairman of the Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs, therefore, decried the management of the court by the counsel for the Judges.

According to him, “There are unnecessary adjournments occasion in the courts. Some of the adjournments are done to satisfy the lawyers. Today, we have an improved system yet the courts are still congested beyond what we imagine because the managers are not doing the needful.”

He, therefore, advised Judges of various courts in the state to be serious with their work devoid of unnecessary distraction from lawyers.

“If a lawyer has a case and he is not in the court for reason best knowing to him, that should be the end of the case,” the royal maintained.

While explaining the overview aspect of the company in the state, Jibrin Shittu, the Public and Private Development Centre PPDC chief executive officer, said access to justice is fundamental aimed at straightening court administration and court management practice leading to moral efficient and accountable cost.