Kogi ACJ Condemns Corrupt Practices Among Judges

The Acting Chief Judge, Kogi State, Hon. Justice Josiah Majebi, has condemned corrupt practices among judges upon a critical evaluation of the negative effect of the menace on the integrity of institutions in the country.
Majebi noted that the Council of Judges have arrived at the conclusion that urgent measures must be taken not to allow it to fester in the state’s Judiciary.
Justice Majebi made this disclosure during an interactive session he held with the Magistrates at the Judiciary headquarters in Lokoja, Kogi State.
According to him, the Council would not hesitate at sanctioning any Judicial Officer or supporting staff of the court  found wanting in that regard as the public would be encouraged to maximise the opportunity provided by the whistleblowing window to expose errant ones.
“We have decided to set up Public Complaints Unit and give out phone numbers and let the public be aware that any of our Magistrates and Area Court Judges involved in corruption can be reported through that process.
“So we are encouraging whistleblowing and you don’t need to turn or work against it if you do what is right at the right time. You, therefore, need to be vigilant to know what is happening in your courts,” he added.
The CJ, who said the state already has 72 Magistrates and would not be appointing new ones, harps on a generally held view of corrupt-related activities in the nation’s Judiciary that lower court Judges must resist.
He stated that feeders from the executive arm indicated that relevant documents submitted to the Governor detailing the needs of the Magistrates were already receiving desired attention, adding that the results would soon manifest in the improved working conditions of the Magistrates.
Majebi further announced the formation of a Public Complaint Unit of the High Court which was imbued with whistleblowing mechanisms, urging the Magistrates and Judges of lower courts in the state as well as other staff to shun corruption.
He said the establishment of the unit was informed by the need to accommodate the public view of the Judiciary and deal with complaints arising from the performance of lower courts in the state.
“The enormity of the financial requirements of the High Court of Justice ecosystem was high and had been presented to the governor for which a commitment has been made.

“Unlike other courts, the High Court has 274 courts spread across the state which requires that more deliverable attention be paid to it,” he said

The Acting CJ expressed gratitude that the government of the day was already giving the needed attention that would favour Magistrates, staff and all other segments of the court.