Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, has lamented that judges in the state were subjected to hardship.

Speaking at the special court session to mark the 2023/2024 Legal Year which took place at the High Court complex in Minna, the state capital, she decried the dilapidated conditions of some courts in Niger, blaming the state government for its failure of disbursing funds to the judicial arm.

Abdulmalik said the Izom Magistrate court had partially collapsed, describing the insufficient allocation to fund capital projects in the judiciary as appalling and embarrassing.

The chief judge said that the monthly allocations released to the state judiciary are grossly inadequate to take care of their needs.

She said the allocations received used to “pay for the judges’ rents, national and international conferences and carry out capital projects”, adding that the High Court complex is in dire need of upgrade by way of reconstruction, rehabilitation, and re-roofing.

“Since the creation of the state, the High Court conference hall is yet to be completed. If when completed, the hall will serve as our meeting point and Conference Centre and venue for our in- house capacity-building training.

“It will also serve as the venue for the conduct of our promotional examination or even the venue for the conduct of our Ceremonial Court sessions or Valedictory Court Sessions” she pointed out.”

She stated that the Ninth Assembly had passed into Law the Harmonisation of Conditions of Service for Magistrates, Sharia Court Judges, State Counsels, Draftsmen and other Connected Purposes requesting Governor Umar Mohammed Bago to direct the full implementation of the Law.

Abdulmalik described as worrisome the manner in which Magistrates transport themselves by public transport, saying “it is undignifying, constitutes an imminent danger to their well-being as they sometimes join vehicles with litigants, defendants and accused persons appearing before them.”

“The implementation of the harmonized Conditions of Service Law 2023 will provide immense succor to their plight” she observed.

She drew the attention of Governor Bago to the passage of the Harmonisation of Conditions of Service for Magistrates and Shari’a court Judges, state Counsels, Draftsmen and other Connected Purposes by the Ninth Assembly.

She then requested the governor to direct the full implementation of the Law, stating that seven out of the High Court judges were due for new vehicles adding that two of them are even long overdue.

“This brings me to the unfortunate situation confronting three retired Chief Judges of the state namely: Justice Ahmed Bima, Justice Mohammed Aliyu Mayaki and Justice Aisha Lami Bwari

“Throughout their tenures as Chief Judges of the state, neither Justice Bima nor Justice Mayaki was given an official vehicle. None of the three retired Chief Judges were given a retirement home as required by Law,” she insisted.

She noted that the duo of Justice Mayaki who retired in October 2020, and Justice Bwari who retired in February 2022 had received their gratuity.

“Your Excellency, I share their agony and I will not pretend but state that I shudder and tremble whenever the issue crosses my mind. I often wonder what will be my fate when I retire?” Abdulmalik asked.

Speaking at the occasion, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Niger state, Barrister Nasiru Muazu, observed that the Nigerian Criminal Justice system in general, like many others, faced a shortage of resources constraints.

He noted that inadequate funding, overcrowded correctional centers, and shortage of legal professionals particularly from the public bar were responsible for the effective implementation of the administration of Criminal administration of Justice.