The Cross Riverians Progressive Initiative, a socio-cultural group has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and ensure that salaries of the Customary Court Judges in Cross Rivers are paid.
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In a statement titled: “Save Our Souls” issued on Thursday by the National Secretary, Dr. Peter Odey, the group also urged the Judicial Council of Nigeria (JCN) to resolve the matter which had lasted over two years.
The group appealed to Buhari, JCN and other stakeholders to, as a matter of urgency to prevail on Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River to pay the judges their accumulated salaries and allowances without further delay.
The group said “The Judges numbering 254 were appointed on February 4, 2019, given their letters of appointment, sworn in by Gov. Ayade and have since been performing their official responsibilities but sad enough, they have not been paid a kobo till date.
“Findings revealed that the affected judiciary officers have been screened severally in anticipation of the payment of their salaries but nothing seems to be coming out of the screening exercises and no hope in sight that the salaries will be paid.
“Our concern as the citizens of the state is the fate of the common people at the grassroots who are the targets of the Customary Courts, there will be miscarriage of Justice because corruption will set when salaries and other entitlements are not paid as being witnessed now in the state.”
It further explained that the country is currently facing trying times and the cost of living is high to bear.
It said “Our passionate appeal to Gov. Ayade is to look into this matter urgently and do the needful in the interest of the people of the state.”
The group sympathised with the affected judges, pleaded with them to continue to be upright in discharging their duties in the interest of the state pending anticipated amicable resolution. (NAN)
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