JUSUN says no state judiciary enjoys financial autonomy

A press statement signed by JUSUN President Comrade Marwan Mustapha Adamu decried claims by the Chairman, Ilorin Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Mr. Mobalaji Ojibara who said that Nasarawa and Bayelsa states judiciary have financial autonomy.Adamu described the statement as untrue, warning that such “unconfirmed” statements, especially from a legal practitioner and chairman […]

A press statement signed by JUSUN President Comrade Marwan Mustapha Adamu decried claims by the Chairman, Ilorin Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Mr. Mobalaji Ojibara who said that Nasarawa and Bayelsa states judiciary have financial autonomy.
Adamu described the statement as untrue, warning that such “unconfirmed” statements, especially from a legal practitioner and chairman of a respectable association like NBA, is capable of misleading the public.
While calling on Nigerians to disregard the statement, he said the NBA chairman should know better, rather than feeding the Nigerian public with lies.
According to Adamu, the union is still fighting for financial independence of the judiciary as contained in a court order of the Federal High Court Abuja, issued on January 13th, 2014.
He stated that the union had earlier threatened to go on strike over the refusal of both the federal and state governments to implement the court order, which clearly mandated and compelled the government to comply with sections 81(3) 121 (3) and 162 (9) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), in the disbursement of funds to the Head of Courts.
However, he added that a reconciliatory meeting with all the stakeholders is ongoing at the instance of the Minister of Labour and Productivity Emeka Wogu with a view to prevailing on the government to obey the court ruling, which is yet to be implemented by any states, including Nasarawa and Bayelsa as erroneously claimed by Mr. Ojibara.
It will be recalled that the President of the NBA, Okey Wali (SAN) had in a recent press briefing, while bemoaning the dwindling financial allocation to the judiciary, called on the states and federal government to adher to the judgement of Justice Adeniyi Ademola of an Abuja Federal Court which granted financial autonomy to the judiciary in the 36 states and the FCT.