Benue chief judge raises alarm over 11, 737 pending cases

Chief Judge of Benue state, Justice Aondover Kaka’an has raises alarm that the state judiciary is almost collapsing as 11, 737 criminal and civil cases are still pending at various courts.

He stated that the high court recorded 2, 836 criminal and civil cases out of which 470 were disposed of while 2, 366 are pending.

Justice Kaka’an, who made the disclosure on Monday during the special court session marking the 2019/2020 legal year in Makurdi, further stated that the high court also recorded 2, 287 motions and disposed of 975 leaving 1, 312 pending cases.

According to him, the magistrate and area courts registered 14, 054 criminal cases out of which 2, 317 were disposed of, noting that more hands need to be brought in to lessen the work load on over-burdened judicial officers.

“There is an acute shortage of support staff such as bailiffs, clerks, cleaners and security guards at various courts, such that my predecessors were forced to encourage a few hands on casual bases in order to remain afloat,” he revealed.

Justice Kaka’an said the precarious financial situation of the judiciary is hampering justice delivery and called on the state government to take urge steps towards absorbing the casual workers into the mainstream civil service to spur them to offer their best for the state.

He emphasized the need for government to rehabilitate court structures across the state, while advocating for the appointment of two judicial officers as acting chief registrar and acting chief registrar litigation respectively.

A lawyer, Bernard Hom (SAN), who spoke on behalf of his colleagues in the state, said there can be no justice in Nigeria if the judiciary is not granted financial independence.

Earlier in an address, the Nigeria Bar Association Chairman, Makurdi branch, Mr. Job Ishember commended Governor Samuel Ortom for sponsoring members to NBA national conferences, noting that the gesture is good for a symbiotic relationship between the arms of government.

He said the state government has donated money and a piece of land for the NBA to build its secretariat and further his threw his weight behind calls for the independence of the judiciary to be able to deliver on its mandate in a timely manner as justice delayed, he added is justice denied.