Benue State Governor, Fr Hycainth Alia, has said the judiciary arm of government in the state will get financial autonomy in line with the Nigerian Constitution and the Benue State Judiciary Fund Management (Financial Autonomy) Law, 2021.
Alia made this known during the closing of the 2023/2024 state Judiciary Legal Year celebration, at the City Bay Event Centre, Makurdi, on Saturday.
According to the governor, autonomy is essential in that it would enable the judges to apply the law without fear or favour.
Alia, who re-emphasised the determination of his administration to create an enabling investment environment to attract investors to the state, said such a desire could only become possible if the judiciary arm is there to protect investors from legal proceedings.
He described the Judiciary as a valued partner in his administration’s efforts to reposition Benue, promising to look into the welfare of judges, including those of the lower bench.
In the words of the governor, “situations where judges of the lower courts in Benue State travel by public transportation, including commercial motorcycles popularly known as ‘Okada”, is an enormous risk and poses grave dangers to the lives of the judges and their work.”
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He directed the state Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice and Public Order, Fidelis Mnyim, to liaise with the Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, and work out modalities aimed at improving judges’ welfare.
While felicitating with the judiciary, the governor charged them to strive towards ensuring speedy and timely dispensation of justice in this new legal year.
