Gombe chief judge seeks free medical check-up for judicial staff

The Chief Judge of Gombe State High Court, Justice Hakila Heman, on Thursday called on the state government to consider as a policy, a sponsorship of free medical check-up for judicial officers in the state.

Speaking at a valedictory court session in honour of late Justice Joy Ramatu Magomya at the High Court Complex, Justice Heman said it has became necessary for the government to sponsor check-up of judicial officers in view of the health challenges they faced by sitting daily in court for long hours.

Heman said that it was a matter of concern that needed immediate action from the state government, “bearing in mind the death of three Khadis of the Shari’a Court of Appeal who died in active service due to health related ailments.”

“This matter requires the immediate attention of the state government, as many of our serving judicial officers are going through one health challenge or the other. It is noteworthy that three Khadis of the Shari’a Court of Appeal passed on at different times in service due to various health related ailments while two died after retirement,” he said.

Justice Heman added that with such health policy in place, judicial officers would put in their best while in service, knowing that the government is sensitive and pro-active to matters relating to their health.

Late retired Justice Magomya died on August 28, 2018 at the age of 73, eight years after her retirement from the judiciary where she worked for 37 years.