Chief Judge of Kogi state, Justice Nasir Ajanah has charged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to champion the struggle for indepencpdence and financial autonomy of the Judiciary.
Ajanah made the call when the newly elected executive members of Lokoja branch of the NBA paid him a courtesy visit at the High Court complex on Friday in Lokoja.
He observed that the ills and trvails of the judiciary in discharging its constitutional functions in the country were largely due to its dependence on the executive for funds.
"It does not augur well for us in the judiciary to continue going cap in hand to the executive to ask for funds to do certain things.
"No Judiciary especially of the states in this country can beat its chest and say that it is fully independent of of the Executive", he added.
Ajanah said it was the duty of the NBA to at all times bring to the knowledge of the state executives that there were three arms of government "and none is subservient to the other.
"There is need for you to pursue it because you know, as judges we cannot come out to talk, the only way we talk is through the Bar.
Ajanah reiterated that the executive as an arm of government should be granted its statutory financial autonomy saying: "Once the budget is passed, they should do what the constitution says they should."
Speaking earlier, new chairman of Lokoja NBA, Mr Joseph Akubo said the visit was to enable them seek collaboration of the judiciary in the bid to achieve a strong and vibrant Bar.
Akubo called for establishment of a Court of Appeal division in Kogi saying the state had the highest number of appeal cases pending at Abuja division and sought intervention of the Chief Judge.
He also sought financial assistance from the Judiciary to enable the NBA complete its on-going secretariat project in Lokoja as he pledged unflinching cooperation of the Bar with the Bench.
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