NEW LEGAL YEAR: Our relationship with the Judiciary remains solidly cordial

…pays tribute to late Chief Judge, President CCA

….says external interference an embarrassment to Country’s judicial system.

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has expressed that his administration’s relationship with the State Judiciary arm has remained solidly cordial hence the smooth running of Governance in the state.

He added that his government have closely observed the Principle of Separation of Powers between the Three Arms of Government and ensured adherence to Due Process as enshrined in our Laws as a means to strengthen checks and balances in governance

The Governor made this known on Monday while delivering his goodwill message at the opening of the 2020/2021 legal year of the Kogi State Judiciary arm.

He noted that 2020 has globally being an unusual year indeed and that the State Judiciary lost two of her highest officials to the cold hands of death even while they were still active on the bench.

The Governor paid tributes to late Justice Nasiru Ajanah the former chief Judge and Justice Ibrahim Shaibu Atadoga the former president of the State’s Customary Court of Appeal stating that both legal luminary were worthy of celebration.

He however noted that he was not only sworn to protect the Rule of Law, but also intensely protective of its Sovereignty as a people and nation.

He said “While we appreciate partnerships that deepen our democratic culture we must not tolerate meddlesomeness in our internal affairs, particularly those that assault and fray our social connection and cohesion, whether at state or federal level.

Governor Bello emphasized that “If our Judiciary at the highest levels have decided that our elections are in substantial compliance with our laws, it is incumbent on all external actors to refrain from taking unilateral actions which might contradict or otherwise embarrass her, moreso when such actors operate without public accountability or transparency”

He added saying that “Governance and politics is like the tail of the wall gecko – very fragile. Pull at it violently and it detaches from the body polity and wriggles to death. Why indeed should anyone obey, or even respect, our courts, especially in the very contentious electoral matters, if they think that after exhausting the multi-level appellate processes that we have in place in the country and losing fair and square, they can still reopen and re-litigate their matters in the courts of public opinion via new avenues provided by foreign powers”.