…Says siting division of appellate court in Gombe will bring justice closer to the people
By Chris Udochukwu
Abuja (Precise Post) – Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya today inspected facilities at the temporary complex of Gombe division of Court of Appeal in preparation to its take-off, saying clients within Gombe and the neighbouring states will have easy access to justice.
The Governor, in company of his Deputy, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, members of the state Executive Council and top judicial officials led by the state Acting Chief Judge, Justice Mu’azu Pindiga went round the appellate court’s complex to assess the quality of work and readiness of the facility for commencement of judicial activities.
Speaking to journalists after the inspection tour, Governor Yahaya expressed satisfaction with the quality and standard of the renovation.
Disclosing this to newsmen on Thursday in a statement, the governor’s Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity), Ismaila Uba Misilli said Governor Inuwa noted that the work has met the required specifications.
He also noted that, with a division of court of appeal now in place, clients within Gombe and the neighbouring states will have easy access to justice whenever the need arises.
He described access to justice as one of the carnival principles of democracy and human rights, lauding the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa for bringing a division of the appellate court to Gombe.
He said, “Yola in Adamawa and Jos in Plateau states used to be the only nearest courts of appeal from Gombe but with the Gombe division of the appellate court that is about to take off, clients in Gombe and other neighboring states within the region can access justice at their door steps”.
The Governor said the temporary complex is provided by the state government and renovated to fastrack the take-off of the court in Gombe and provide the desired comfort to dispense Justice with equity and fairness pending the completion of the permanent site.
The governor later inspected the residential accommodation provided for the court of appeal staff at the Shehu Abubakar government lodge.
Earlier in his remark, the state Acting Chief Judge, Justice Mu’azu Pindiga thanked Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for the prompt release of the funds used in renovating the court facility.
He said the State High and the Appellate Courts will continue to work in synergy to ensure the quick dispensation of justice to all.
It will be recalled that Governor Inuwa Yahaya had recently approved both permanent and temporary sites for the take-off of a division of a Court of Appeal in Gombe state.
A 7- man team, led by the presiding judge of Jos division of the Court of Appeal, Justice Adzira Gana Mshelia, had earlier visited the state on a facility tour of both the permanent and temporary sites.
