On Sunday, the Justice of the Court of Appeal (JCA), Binta Zubairu, said judges are not the cause of the delay in the dispensation of justice, as erroneously believed by some Nigerians.
Ms Zubairu made this known on the sidelines of a reception organised in her honour in Zaria on her recent elevation as a Justice of the Court.
”Judges are being wrongly accused of delay in dispensing justice by the public.
“Judges work as a team with the prosecution, lawyers, and others. Speedy dispensation of justice requires the prompt efforts of the police and prosecution, the assembling of exhibits by lawyers, and presenting them correctly before the judges in court in accordance with the laws.
“Most times the judges or magistrates are ready to adjudicate, but the prosecution would not be ready, or the lawyers would come with one excuse or another.
“These are facts that are glaring in courts, but because we, the judges, can’t voice out our frustration, all the blame is shifted and heaped on us,” she said.
She said most times, it takes the police longer than usual to conclude an investigation in a simple case.
Mr Zubairu commended the Zazzau emirate for identifying and rejoicing with her over her promotion and appointment.
According to her, her elevation to the court of appeal is for the joy of the entire Zazzau Emirate and humanity.
She expressed gratitude to the Almighty God for making her the first female in the Zazzau Emirate to be elevated to the rank of Justice of the Court of Appeal.
“As a child, it was not my wish to be a magistrate or a judge. I wanted to be the principal of a school.
“I wanted to be a principal because, as a kid, I desired to see that all children go to school to be educated.
“I have not, in my wildest imagination, thought I would be a judge, but destiny took me to the judiciary,’’ she said.
Earlier, the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmad Bamalli, said, “The emirate was proud of Justice Zubairu as the first female from the emirate to attain that height in the judiciary.
The emir enjoined the celebrant to be a good ambassador of the emirate by exhibiting a high sense of honesty and professionalism in her endeavour.
Also speaking, the chairman of the presidential task force committee on prison decongestion and former FCT chief judge, Justice Ishaq Bello, urged young judges to imbibe a culture of hard work and dedication to enable them to excel.
Mr Bello, while congratulating Ms Zubairu, advised her to follow the ethics of the profession for effective delivery.
(NAN)
