Controversial Transfer Of Magistrate: Statement By Commissioner’s Aide Highly Condemnable — NBA President Maikyau Reacts

*Says NBA Will Not Shirk From Its Responsibility When It Comes To Integrity Of Courts
*Says Even Commissioner Lacks Competence To Make Such Comments
*Charges Magistracy In Nasarawa Chapter To Support The Transferred Magistrate If The Case Comes Before Them

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Y. C Maikyau, OON, SAN has reacted to the controversy surrounding the transfer of a Nawarawa State Magistrate for purported issuing a bench warrant against the State Commissioner of Works.

Maijyau took specific interest in a statement made by an Aide to the Commissioner and roundly condemned it in very strong terms.

The aide, one Aliyu Bello Aliyu, is reported to have stated that the Magistrate, Aisha Abdullahi erred in issuing the order on the 31st of October, 2022 and will undergo “special punishment”.

When the Magistrate was recently transferred from the Senior Magistrate Court, Uke where she presides to Agwada, Kokona LGA and the case reassigned, speculations ran rife that it was a punitive measure arising from her order against the said commissioner.

The NBA President who was speaking at the ongoing All Nigerian Judges Conference 2022, holding at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja today,14th November, 2022, reiterated the NBA’s absolute support of the judiciary and indicated that he would reach out to the Chief Judge and Honourable Attorney General of Nasarawa State to investigate and address the issues.

In his words, “I stand on behalf of the NBA and condemn in the strongest possible terms, the guts and effrontery of the Commissioner’s aide to deliver a “ruling “on the conduct of the Magistrate issuing that warrant.

He added, “such statement can never be within the ambit of any aide to any Commissioner or even the Commissioner himself.

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We are not people who do not know what to do when it comes to issues that seem to tamper with the integrity of the court. That is what we are here to do and we will not shirk that responsibility at all, no matter who is involved. And so, I want to reassure all of you that the Nigerian Bar Association is standing by you and as you continue to perform your responsibility without fear or favour, remember that we are right behind you”.

Maikyau also called on the members of the Magistracy in Nasarawa State to support the transferred Magistrate by delivering nothing less than justice in that particular matter, if the case comes before them.