NBA Wants Credible Judges In Customary Courts

The chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Port Harcourt branch, Lawrence Oko-Jaja Esq, has stressed the need for qualified and credible persons to be appointed as judges and members of the customary courts in Rivers State.

Barrister Oko-Jaja made this assertion when he led the executive members of the association to pay a courtesy visit on the president of state customary court of appeal, Hon Justice Peter Agumagu in his office in Port Harcourt, recently.

The NBA chairman urged the leadership of the state customary court of appeal to look at the recommendations of the association in that regards, adding that if the recommendations are seriously taken it would enhance justice delivery in the customary courts across the state.

He commended the leadership of the state Customary Court of Appeal on the various achievements recorded, especially in the areas of infrastructural development and urged the leadership to sustain the good work for the growth of the customary administration in the state.

Earlier in his response, the pioneer president of the state customary court, Hon Justice Peter Agumagu told the NBA leadership, Port Harcourt branch, he is optimistic that the new constitution review panel with regards to the customary courts laws would confer exclusive original jurisdiction to the state customary courts to ensure dispensation of justice as already achieved at the federal level.

Justice Agumagu used the opportunity to call for synergy between the association (NBA) and the customary court of appeal for effective justice delivery in the state.

He listed lacked of proper emphasis on the customary laws and their application by lawyers who appealed on customary court rulings as some challenges affecting the effective functioning of the customary court of appeal in the state.