Justice Muhammadu Lawal Sworn In As Acting CJ, Kaduna State, As Acting Governor Calls For Collaboration Between The Executive And Judiciary

Justice Muhammadu Lawal Bello has finally been sworn in as the acting Chief Judge of Kaduna State, to handle the lead-gavel of the state’s bench. The ceremony was braced with the presence of legal luminaries and other dignitaries of high standing. The Acting Governor of Kaduna State, Barnabas Yusuf Bala, who presided over the swearing-in ceremony of Justice Muhammad Lawal Bello as he took the oath of office, thanked Justice Tanimu Zailani, the outgoing Chief Judge, for his decades of service to the state. According to him, the event marks the departure into the graceful retirement of Justice Tanimu Zailani, and the ascension in acting capacity of Justice Muhammadu Lawal Bello to the office of Chief Judge of Kaduna State. Highlighting the achievements of the state’s judiciary under the outgoing Chief Judge, the Acting Governor said that the Court has made significant progress in settling commercial disputes, whilst adding that there is a lot of gains to be harvested if criminal matters are also given a fast track procedure. ”Today marks the departure into graceful retirement of Justice Tanimu Zailani and the ascension in acting capacity of Justice Muhammadu Lawal Bello to the office of Chief Judge of Kaduna State. We wish Justice Zailani a most deserved happy retirement. ”We congratulate the most Senior Judge in the state, Justice Muhammadu Lawal Bello, who has today taken the oath of office as Acting Chief Judge of Kaduna. We look forward to working with him in the service of our state. ”The Kaduna State Judiciary has received recognition for timely resolution of commercial disputes and enforcement of contracts. Our state will benefit if we can also fast-track the conclusion of criminal cases,” he said. Speaking further, he said that the Kaduna State House of Assembly has kindly enacted legislation for a new Penal Code Law and to domesticate the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, stressing that, it is now up to the Executive and the Judiciary to work closely together to realise the objectives of the said laws. Emphasizing the need for active collaboration between the tiers of government, Mr. Bala outlined some of the policies already put in place to improve the Justice System. He said that over seventy lawyers have been recruited into the state Ministry of Justice, alongside the approval to hire new Magistrates to improve the capacity of the bench. ”On our part, we have recruited seventy new lawyers into the Ministry of Justice. The state government has also granted approval to hire fourty new Magistrates. ”The government recently proposed legislation to expand the jurisdiction of magistrates to determine matters involving monetary claims of up to five million naira.The Landlord and Tenant Law has also vested in magistrates, matters which were previously handled by the Rent Tribunals. The expanded remit of the magistrates should eventually reduce the number of cases that begin at the High Court,” he said.]]>