The Chief Judge of Benue State, Hon. Justice Maurice Ahemba Ikpambese, has cautioned magistrates in the state against all forms of corruption, warning that any conduct which compromises judicial independence weakens public confidence in the justice system.
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Justice Ikpambese gave the warning on Friday during a strategic meeting with magistrates at High Court 1, Benue State High Court of Justice Headquarters, Makurdi.
The advice was contained in a statement issued by the Protocol Officer of the Benue State High Court of Justice, Mr. David Jooli.
Addressing the magistrates, the Chief Judge described the office of a judicial officer as one of the highest public trusts in a constitutional democracy.
He said citizens approach the courts with the expectation that justice will not only be done but must also be seen to have been done.
Justice Ikpambese reminded the magistrates that their ultimate legacy would not be determined by the number of years spent on the Bench or the volume of judgments delivered, but by their faithfulness to the judicial oath.
“When you eventually retire from the Bench, your greatest legacy will be whether you remained faithful to your oath of office,” he said.
The Chief Judge stressed that corruption in the judiciary goes beyond the acceptance of money or financial inducement.
According to him, favouritism, abuse of discretion, unnecessary adjournments, improper communication with litigants or lawyers, manipulation of court records, selective application of the law and any conduct capable of compromising judicial independence also amount to corruption.
“The moment a judicial officer allows political, financial, social, ethnic, religious or personal considerations to influence a decision, justice ceases to exist and public confidence in the judiciary begins to erode. Once that confidence is lost, no amount of legal learning can restore it overnight,” he warned.
Justice Ikpambese also advised magistrates to avoid undue familiarity with litigants and legal practitioners, noting that judicial officers must preserve both the reality and appearance of independence.
He further urged magistrates to exercise caution in handling garnishee proceedings, particularly those involving public funds and government institutions.
The Chief Judge described garnishee proceedings as special statutory proceedings which directly affect the rights of judgment creditors, judgment debtors and third parties.
He said such cases require diligence, caution and strict adherence to the law.
Justice Ikpambese also warned against unnecessary adjournments, reiterating that justice delayed is justice denied.
He stressed the need for magistrates to deliver rulings and judgments promptly in order to ensure timely dispensation of justice.
The Chief Judge further emphasised the importance of continuous legal education, saying the law is constantly evolving through new procedural rules and appellate court decisions.
Responding on behalf of the magistrates, the Chairman of the Magistrates Association of Nigeria, Benue State Branch, Regina Alashi, thanked the Chief Judge for what she described as timely and valuable guidance.
She assured him that magistrates in the state would continue to uphold integrity, minimise delays in the administration of justice and sustain public confidence in the judiciary.
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