The National President of Magistrates Association of Nigeria, Mr Sa’idu Safiyanu, says the association is in support of President Muhammad Buhari’s war against corruption.
Safiyanu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Thursday that his association condemned corruption in all its ramification, and urged the Federal Government to punish the givers and takers of bribe.
He said that as professionals, they had taken judicial oath to uphold the rule of the law and defend the constitution of the country and not to engage in anything that was not good for the society.
The president of the association advised the Federal Government to consider the doctrine of separation of powers in the constitution and the independence of the judiciary to enable judiciary function efficiently and effectively. According to him, the judiciary does not have full autonomy and is under-funded because it is still getting it’s statutory allocation from the executive.
Safiyanu said if there was full separation of powers, the judiciary would not act on anybody’s script.
On the crackdown on some judges across the nation by the Department of State Service (DSS), he said proper channels and procedures were not followed during their arrest and the search on their houses.
Safiyanu explained that there was a laid down procedure if any judge was found wanting whereby such judge would be reported to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for investigation and prosecution.
“For instance, it is just similar to the military, they are court martialed if they are found guilty of any offence before they are handed over to conventional court for final judgment.
“For our senior colleagues, the right steps were not adhered in their arrest because the NJC is the constituted body that is saddled with powers to recruit, promote and fire any erring judge of Supreme Court and even hand him over to the appropriate body for further action.”
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