Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, says his administration is working on the much-awaited Judicial Autonomy Bill, adding that the government is committed to the independence and well-being of the judicial staff.

Judges and lawyers had advocated for autonomy of the judiciary in Kwara State at an event commemorating the start of the 2021/2022 legal year on Monday.

The Chief Judge of Kwara state, Justice Suleiman Kawu, called for enactment of the judiciary autonomy law in the state.

The chief judge commended the governor for committing the government’s efforts to strengthen the manpower of Judiciary, which he said they needed to achieve quick and efficient administration of justice.

“As soon as His Excellency Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq assumed office, he appointed five new High Court judges which represents the second highest number of such in the history of Kwara State and brought the number of High Court judges in the state to an all-time high number of 21,” he said.

Kawu said, “Like Oliver Twist, we will keep asking your Excellency for more. It is in this regard we crave your indulgence to kindly look into enactment of judiciary autonomy law, provision of more court rooms, vehicles, payment of gratuities to retired judges and khadis”.

In his speech, lawyer Yusuf Ali (SAN), called on the governor to grant the judiciary in the state autonomy.

Ali also said that the digitalisation of the Judiciary was overdue and called on the Chief Judge to make judges deliver their judgment online.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Salman Jawondo (SAN), said apart from the government’s preparedness to grant autonomy to the judiciary, his ministry was considering the review of certain state laws such as the Administration of Criminal Justice Law to meet the current reality and address abuse of some provisions.

However, the governor in his speech said; “One big take away from me here today is that demand is being made for the government to do more for the judiciary. The good thing is that we are going to sign the judiciary autonomy bill this coming year.”

AbdulRazaq said that the non-interference of the executive arm under his watch in the appointment of state High Court judges noted that signing the autonomy bill does not take away the fact that the funds available for all the three arms of government to run government businesses are grossly inadequate.

He said his administration, on assumption of office, made sure that the sorry state of infrastructure in various courts in the state became a thing of the past with the renovation of court rooms, adding that the government is also paying all allowances of the judges.