State judiciary autonomy will quicken justice dispensation ‑ Senate

The Senate Tuesday said the financial autonomy granted the state judiciary by the executive arm of government would aid the rapid dispensation of justice across the country.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, said this at the screening of two presidential nominees: Anthony Ojukwu, nominated for another term as Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission and Justice Lawal as President, FCT Customary Court of Appeal.

President Muhammadu Buhari, last Friday, assented to 16 constitutional alteration bills, including the ones granting financial autonomy to the state assembly and judiciary.

Bamaidele said: “Fiscal autonomy of state Judiciary will have a direct impact in operations of the judiciary at the state level, especially in the decongestion of cases waiting for trial.”

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Speaking during his confirmation hearing, Justice Lawal said all issues related to family and matrimonial cases should be handled by customary court instead of high court.

He said, “It will be in the interest of the country if the lawmakers can re-assign some jurisdictions in favour of customary court to relieve the high court of family and matrimonial issues, which are related to customs and Islamic law.

“I do not see any reason customary courts are not saddled with matrimonial cases instead of high courts.”