By Shafa’atu Suleiman, Sokoto
Governor Ahmed Aliyu has challenged the newly sworn-in seven high court judges and Khadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal to observe ethical standards and conduct that will promote, ensure, and preserve transparency, integrity, and respect for the judiciary.
“You are to exhibit patience, dignity, and courtesy to litigants, witnesses, and legal officers that appear before you and accord them full rights to a hearing in accordance with the law and rules governing your courts.
“You must avoid abuse of the powers of your offices, maintain order and decorum, promptly dispose cases, abstain from comments about pending or impending cases before the courts.”
The governor also charged the judicial officers not to allow their family members to influence their judicial conduct or decisions and cautioned them against using their offices as a means of obtaining personal gains.
He applauded the state judiciary for being one of the best in the country, noting that no member of the Bench of Sokoto judiciary has ever been found guilty of judicial corruption.
“I will, however, want to call on the newly appointed Judges and Khadis to shun corruption in the discharge of their judicial duties.”
He said that the NJC , anti-graft agencies and the state government were all watching and charged them not to betray their oaths.
He assured of his administration’s readiness to continue to respect the rule of law, judicial independence, welfare and development of the judiciary.
He said since inception, his administration has ensured that all aspects of the due need of the judiciary have been attended to without any delay.
According to him, the state government has approved the construction of an additional complex for the state High Court and renovation work of the Sharia Court complex to comfortably accommodate the topmost judicial officers.
He also said the state government has approved the purchase of vehicles for the newly appointed judges and khadis and have cleared the deficit left by the immediate past administration.
The new seven high court judges sworn are Mariya Haruna Dagon Daji, Hadiza Sahabi Jaredi, Shuaibu Ahmed, Fatima Hassan, Fatima Saidu Muhammed, Nura Muhammad Bello and Abubakar Moyi while the Khadis are Abdulaziz Muhammad Yar Abba, Abubakar Lawal, Ibrahim Bello Sokoto, Bello Iman Abubakar, Lawal Muhammad Abibu, Umar Ibrahim Bodinga and Umar Kabir Marnona.