OVER 40,000 CASES PENDING AT FEDERAL HIGH COURT - JUSTICE AUTA

 
The Chief Judge of the Federal High court of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Auta has revealed that close to 50,000 court cases are still pending within the different Federal High Courts located across the country.

Justice Ibrahim Auta stated this yesterday at the Federal High Court, Lokoja during the Special Court Session to mark the commencement of the Federal High Court Legal year 2013/2014.

Justice Auta however attributed the delay in court cases to the short number of judges at the Federal High court, and the inadequacy to fill the void of retired judges and those elevated to the court of Appeal.


According to him, "As at September, 2013, the total number of cases carried forward from 2012 is 74,126; 30,497 cases were filed while 64,270 cases were disposed leaving a balance of 48,027 still pending in our court".

The chief Judge who frown at the development of having justice delay said effort have been made to ensure that cases are given timely judgment and eliminate delay in court processes.

"In our efforts to ensure that we eliminate delays in the court, I have issued the Practice Direction with regard to payment of penalty fees for the late filling of processes. There is also a Criminal procedure to take care of offenses like rape, kidnapping. Etc".

Justice Auta also said efforts by the bench to ensure the comfort of Federal High court judges; to a large extend have given rise to the timely disposal of cases. "I have continued in my efforts to ensure the comfort of our judges and to a large extent the staff of the Court. These include provision of durable vehicles, comfortable accommodation, medicare, conference, workshops and seminar. The judges have reciprocated these gestures by the timely disposal of cases.

Justice Auta therefore appeal to the Federal Judicial Service commission and the National Judicial Council to support the Federal High Court by ensuring that recruitment of judges into the Federal High Court in this Legal year are given timely permission.

He also urges judges in the country to uphold the truth value of judiciary in order to uphold the trust of the people on the legal system. "I urge all of us, Judges of the Court to continue to conduct ourselves in accordance with the dictates and the ethics of our profession, bearing in mind that we as judges have the fate and even lives of the people in our hands and must not play with it.

"I must tel you that if we all continue to do our best according to the dictates of the Constitution and the law we shall overcome. Yes, I say we shall overcome all vicissitudes associated with the circumstances of the time. The Federal High Court, its Judges and very efficient Staff will continue to be the cynosure of eyes even those who don't love us".