Delta chief judge walks out JP for improper dressing

Three was a mild drama on Monday in Asaba during the inauguration of 235 new Justices of Peace (JP) by the Delta State Chief Judge, Justice Marshal Umukoro, when one of the appointees was walked out of the venue before the ceremony commenced because he was not properly dressed.

A furious Justice Umukoro described the erring appointee as a “motor park tout working for one of the commercial buses taking passengers from Asaba to the market town of Onitsha, Anambra State.”

The improperly dressed nominee had breezed into the hall with a sleeveless shirt, an outfit, which the Chief Judge described as not proper for a Justice of Peace.

The CJ, however, tasked the other 234 Justices of Peace to bring peace to their various communities across the state.

He told the new Justices of Peace that by their appointment they were now role models to others in the society, adding that they should assist security agencies in crime fighting by providing credible information to security agents.

The Chief Judge listed the functions of the JPs to include preservation of peace, suppressing riots, dispensing all forms of disorderliness, and directing post-mortem examinations under section 12 of the Coroners Law.

Others include issuing summons and warrants for the purpose of compelling the attendance of accused person(s) as witness before the court, issuing search warrants, taking solemn affirmations and statutory declaration, and any other assigned functions by the state governor.

He said: “In carrying out these functions, you are expected to be fair and firm in your actions and decisions, as your integrity will often be put to test. You are bound to face obstacles and challenges, but when you diligently apply yourselves to these challenges with a determination to succeed, you will always come out triumphantly.”

According to him, the new appointees were selected after the authorities had carefully gone through their records, adding that their appointment was in fulfillment of Section 12(1) of the Magistrate Court Law, which empowers the governor to appoint or remove anyone as a JP.