Bayelsa government, NBA, express concern over non-sitting at federal courts

Absence Of Judges Stall Ese Oruru’s Case, Others

The Bayelsa State Government and the state branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has expressed concern over the continuous lock down of the Yenagoa divisions of Federal High Court (FHC) and the National Industrial Court (NIC) for the past six months.

Addressing newsmen in Yenagoa, the NBA and state government urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria and other relevant authorities to urgently resolve issues responsible for the non-sitting at both Federal courts in Yenagoa.

The FHC and NIC has been locked with no sitting or hearing for over six months owing to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) indictment of the two judges attached to the courts.

Though the two Judges, Hon. Justice Terseer Agbadu-Fishim of the Federal High Court and Hon. Justice H. Nganjiwa, of the National Industrial Court have not be arraigned before any court by the EFCC, their continued absence from court has halted all proceedings.

Among the cases pending before Justice Nganjiwa include the case of Ese Oruru, the girl abducted to Kano from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The Guardian findings show that the continued hearing of Oruru’s case has suffered many postponements since the indictment of Justice Nganjiwa, who is the presiding judge.

The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kemasuode Wodu and his information counterpart, Hon Jonathan Obuebite, who spoke on behalf of the state government also called on the Federal Government to urgently wade into the matter before it leads to insecurity.

According to the Attorney General, the State Government has expressed its concern earlier by sending a delegation led by himself to the then Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and wondered why no appreciable action has been taken to address the issue with a view to making the affected courts resume operations.

Chairman, Yenagoa Branch of the NBA, Barr. Eric Derie and his Sagbama counterpart, Barr. Kelvin Ejelonu, called on all to prevail on the Federal Government to ensure the smooth administration of justice. This, according to them, can be achieved by either appointing interim judicial officers to preside over the affairs of the two courts pending the determination of the allegations leveled against the judges or outright appointment of substantive judges to replace them.