*Calls On Govt To Implement The Constitutional Provisions
Ensuring Independence Of The Judiciary
* Adopts The Position Of NBA President
![image](/2021/04/lawp1.jpg")
The Nigerian Bar Association [NBA] Makurdi branch has thrown its
weight behind the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) for
asking its members to embark on strike.
![image](/2021/01/payne-alex.jpg")
Nairalaw, recalls that JUSUN on 1st April directed its
staff in the 36 states to shut down offices and departments for a
strike action pending when instructions are given to them to resume
work.
In a statement signed by the Chairman of the NBA Makurdi branch,
Justin A. Gbagir, Esq, and made available to TheNigerialawyer, he,
however, noted that that the strike will have a devastating
effect.
Read the full statement below
TEXT OF A SPEECH BY THE CHAIRMAN NIGERIAN BAR
ASSOCIATION (NBA), MAKURDI BRANCH ON THE OCCASION OF SOLIDARITY
RALLY WITH JUDICIAL STAFF UNION OF NIGERIA (JUSUN) ON THE OCCASION
OF STRIKE ACTION TO DEMAND FOR FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE OF THE
JUDICIARY
DATED 6TH APRIL, 2021
Protocols:
The National President of Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Olumide
Akpata yesterday 5th April, 2021 issued a statement
regarding the strike action been embarked upon by JUSUN today. The
Makurdi Branch of the Bar been an integral part of the National Bar
with allegiance thereto, I most humbly adopt the statement of the
National President and wish to reproduce the relevant part thereof
here as follows:
“The NBA is deeply worried that despite the clear provisions
of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as
altered) which consecrate the autonomy of the Judiciary, the
Executive arm of Government, particularly at the State level, has
customarily refused to comply with the provisions of the
Constitution, which are targeted at safeguarding the independence
of the Judiciary.
The NBA is aware of the judgment of the Federal High Court
of 13th January 2014 which unequivocally confirmed the autonomy of
the Judiciary in line with the spirit and letters of the
Constitution. While that judgment was followed by a Memorandum of
Understanding between JUSUN and relevant stakeholders under which
parties agreed to conscientiously give effect to the judgement of
the Court, that has not been the case for seven years after the
landmark judgment. This situation does not augur well for our
constitutional democracy, as it suggests that members of the
Executive arm of Government, who swore to uphold the principles of
the Constitution, can flout it, with impunity.
The Judiciary is an equal arm of Government relative to the
Executive and the Legislature, and its independence is fundamental
to the effective discharge of its mandate under the Constitution. A
situation where the Judiciary literally begs for its resources from
the Executive arm, as is currently the case across several States,
cannot guarantee its independence, and constitutes an affront to
the Constitution and the Rule of Law.
The NBA is equally aware that the Executive Order No. 10
signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, on the 20th of May 2020
which, to a large extent, sought to address this constitutional
imbroglio by treating the funds due to the State Judiciaries as a
first line charge, and requiring that the funds be paid directly to
the Heads of Court concerned. However, information available to the
NBA shows that the State Governors have challenged the Executive
Order, citing constitutional infractions.
The NBA is of the considered view that the provisions of
Section 121(3) of the Constitution on the financial autonomy of the
State Judiciaries are clear and do not really need the instrument
of an Executive Order to give effect to them. To the contrary, it
is a simple matter of enforcement by the States as the Federal
Government has admirably done in respect of the Judiciary at the
Federal level.
However, as commendable and laudable as the proposed strike
action may be, the NBA is concerned about its timing and the
potentially devastating consequences it would pose for justice
administration in the country, particularly coming on the heels of
prolonged lull in judicial activities owing to the Covid-19
pandemic and the enforced lockdowns.
Across the country, the Courts are trying to play catch-up
for lost time, and it would be catastrophic for the administration
of justice for the Courts to be shut down again. This is not to
mention the adverse economic consequences for families and lawyers
alike, who earn a living in one way or the other, by providing
various support services to the Court system.
For the avoidance of doubt, the NBA, as a leading
stakeholder in the justice sector, and in keeping with its motto of
Promoting the Rule of Law is in support of the demands of JUSUN,
and has been a constant voice of advocacy towards enthroning
judicial autonomy. But the timing of an action, is as good as the
action itself.
Against the backdrop of the above, the NBA has reached out
to, and is discussing with JUSUN on the prospects of reconsidering
the strike action at this time, and will provide updates as
discussions progress.”
As I stated recently during a Valedictory Court Session, the
general welfare of judicial officers is in a humiliating state
across the country. Despite that civil servants and political
office holders have had their salaries and other welfare packages
reviewed upward so many times, those of the judicial officers have
remained frozen for several years, and for over a decade in the
case of judges of the superior courts. There is need to take urgent
steps to improve on the welfare of judicial officers in view of the
critical role of the Judiciary in safeguarding the nation’s
democracy. There is no gain-saying that judges do important and
extremely sensitive work. Yet, there has been no corresponding
improvement in the welfare of judicial officers as a result of none
adherence to the constitutional provisions on the financial
autonomy of the judiciary.
There is also poor state of infrastructure in the judicially. It
need to be noted that the infrastructural deficit and lack of
modern facilities to enhance the work of our judges makes it
practically impossible for the court to function effectively.
Observance and implementation of the constitutional provisions on
the financial autonomy of the judiciary as a separate arm of
government will enhance infrastructural development, provide for
better administration of justice, reduce crime and ensure general
peace and tranquillity in the nation.
In Benue State, there are three judicial entities that receive
budgetary allocations from the state budget, namely;
- High Court of Justice
- Customary Court of Appeal, and
- Judicial Service Commission
In the last six years, from 2016 to 2021, allocations to the
above state judicial entities is as shown below:
Table 1: High Court of Justice Budgetary Allocation from
2016 to 2021
| YEAR | PERSONNEL COST | OVERHEAD COST | TOTAL RECURRENT EXPENDITURE |
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE | TOTAL ALLOCATION |
| 2016 | 1,517,147,770 | 161,900,000 | 1,678,047,770 | 445,500,000 | 2,134,547,770 |
| 2017 | 1,718,736,577 | 152,152,200 | 1,870,888,577 | 214,000,000 | 2,084,888,577 |
| 2018 | 1,614,637,585 | 196,000,000 | 1,910,637,585 | 214,000,000 | 2,024,637,585 |
| 2019 | 1,924,835,023 | 438,400,000 | 2,363,235,023 | 523,800,000 | 2,887,035,023 |
| 2020 | 1,230,725,921 | 382,400,000 | 1,613,125,921 | 178,960,000 | 1,792,055,521 |
| 2021 | 1,360,705,586 | 196,860,065 | 1,557,555,651 | 325,870,000 | 1,883,435,651 |
| Total | 8,136,089,541 | 1,527,712,265 | 10,993,490,527 | 1,902,130,000 | 12,806,600,127 |
Table 2: Customary Court of Appeal Budgetary Allocation
from 2016 to 2021
| YEAR | PERSONNEL COST | OVERHEAD COST | TOTAL RECURRENT EXPENDITURE |
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE | TOTAL ALLOCATION |
| 2016 | 165,000,000 | 63,550,000 | 228,550,000 | 35,000,000 | 263,550,000 |
| 2017 | 199,790,007 | 95,557,000 | 295,347,007 | 35,000,000 | 330,347,007 |
| 2018 | 199,790,007 | 104,902,000 | 304,692,007 | 35,000,000 | 339,692,007 |
| 2019 | 184,807,506 | 176,021,200 | 360,828,706 | 260,411,000 | 621,239,706 |
| 2020 | 121,957,554 | 75,519,000 | 197,476,554 | 117,880,000 | 315,356,554 |
| 2021 | 92,400,000 | 67,191,535 | 159,591,535 | 113,726,460 | 273,317,995 |
| Total | 963,745,074 | 582,740,735 | 1,546,485,809 | 597,017,460 | 2,143,503,269 |
Table 3: Judicial Service Commission Budgetary
Allocation from 2016 to 2021
| YEAR | PERSONNEL COST | OVERHEAD COST | TOTAL RECURRENT EXPENDITURE |
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE | TOTAL ALLOCATION |
| 2016 | 84,769,460 | 15,677,500 | 100,446,960 | 60,000,000 | 160,446,960 |
| 2017 | 113,684,115 | 19,591,380 | 132,275,494 | 60,400,000 | 193,675,494 |
| 2018 | 80,000,000 | 19,591,380 | 99,591,380 | 145,000,000 | 244,591,380 |
| 2019 | 80,000,000 | 19,591,380 | 99,591,380 | 145,000,000 | 244,591,380 |
| 2020 | 78,070,000 | 18,001,140 | 96,071,140 | 40,000,000 | 136,071,140 |
| 2021 | 81,844,973 | 9,774,429 | 91,619,402 | 20,000,000 | 111,619,402 |
| Total | 518,368,548 | 102,227,209 | 619,595,756 | 470,400,000 | 1,091, 355,756 |
Sources:
https://www.mofep.be.gov.ng/viewyearlybudget/2017[1]
https://www.mofep.be.gov.ng/viewyearlybudget/2018[2]
https://www.mofep.be.gov.ng/viewyearlybudget/2019[3]
https://www.mofep.be.gov.ng/viewyearlybudget/2020[4]
https://www.mofep.be.gov.ng/viewyearlybudget/2021
Table 4: Summary of Allocation for the Judicial Entities
from 2016 to 2021
| STATE JUDICIAL ENTITIES |
TOTAL RECURRENT EXPENDITURE 2016-2021 |
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
2016-2021 |
TOTAL ALLOCATION
2016-2021 |
| High Court of Justice | 10,993,490,527 | 1,902,130,000 | 12,806,600,127 |
| Customary Court of Appeal | 1,546,485,809 | 597,017,460 | 2,143,503,269 |
| Judicial Service Commission | 619,595,756 | 470,400,000 | 1,091, 355,756 |
| Total | 13,159,572,092 | 2,546,187,460 | 16,041,459,152 |
As can been seen in Table 4 above, the total budgetary
allocation to the three judicial entities making up the judicial
arm of government in the last six years, from 2016 to 2021 is
Sixteen Billion, Forty One Million, Four Hundred and
Fifty-Nine Thousand, One Hundred and Fifty Two Naira
(N16,041,459,152). It is pertinent to note that the above
figure is the budgetary allocation. It is possible that the chunk
of the allocation, especially the Capital Expenditure Allocation
has not been released.
From the Summary of Allocation above, the Total Capital
Expenditure for the Judicial Arm of Government in the last Six
Years is only Two Billion, Five Hundred and Forty-Six Million, One
Hundred and Eighty-Seven Thousand, Four Hundred and Sixty Naira
(N2,546,187,460). This by average is 424 Million Capital
Allocation for the whole judicial arm of government per
annum.
As stated by the NBA President in the statement reproduced
above, “the Judiciary is an equal arm of Government relative to
the Executive and the Legislature, and its independence is
fundamental to the effective discharge of its mandate under the
Constitution. A situation where the Judiciary literally begs for
its resources from the Executive arm, as is currently the case
across several States, cannot guarantee its independence, and
constitutes an affront to the Constitution and the Rule of
Law”.
It is against this background that the NBA Makurdi Branch
identify and support JUSUN for embarking on this strike which seems
to be the only language that our democratic governments hears and
understand.
However, we also adopt the position of our National President
that “the NBA has reached out to, and is discussing
with JUSUN on the prospects of reconsidering the strike action at
this time”.
It is our hope that the National leadership of JUSUN will give
our National President an opportunity for constructive engagement
so that the lingering issue of the Independence of the Judiciary
will be resolved once and for all in our dear country.
We also call on the federal government and all the States in the
federation to observe and implement the constitutional provisions
ensuring the independence of the judiciary without further delay
and in the interest of the Nigerian State.
We conclude that a protracted strike by JUSUN will be
devastating. The plight of accused persons and congested police
cells, plights of inmates awaiting trial in prisons across the
nation, and the frustration of litigants will be better
imagined.
It is our belief that His Excellency, Dr Samuel Ortom, the
Executive Governor of Benue State who is a listening and
progressive Governor will again take the bold step to be the first
among his equals to observe and implement the constitutional
provisions ensuring the independence of the judiciary, and we so
urge.
Thank you all and God bless.
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Long Live the Government of Benue State
Long Live the Nigerian Bar Association
Long Live Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria.
Justin A. Gbagir, Esq.
Chairman
*Calls On Govt To Implement The Constitutional Provisions
Ensuring Independence Of The Judiciary
* Adopts The Position Of NBA President
The Nigerian Bar Association [NBA] Makurdi branch has thrown its
weight behind the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) for
asking its members to embark on strike.
Nairalaw, recalls that JUSUN on 1st April directed its
staff in the 36 states to shut down offices and departments for a
strike action pending when instructions are given to them to resume
work.
In a statement signed by the Chairman of the NBA Makurdi branch,
Justin A. Gbagir, Esq, and made available to TheNigerialawyer, he,
however, noted that that the strike will have a devastating
effect.
Read the full statement below
TEXT OF A SPEECH BY THE CHAIRMAN NIGERIAN BAR
ASSOCIATION (NBA), MAKURDI BRANCH ON THE OCCASION OF SOLIDARITY
RALLY WITH JUDICIAL STAFF UNION OF NIGERIA (JUSUN) ON THE OCCASION
OF STRIKE ACTION TO DEMAND FOR FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE OF THE
JUDICIARY
DATED 6TH APRIL, 2021
Protocols:
The National President of Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Olumide
Akpata yesterday 5th April, 2021 issued a statement
regarding the strike action been embarked upon by JUSUN today. The
Makurdi Branch of the Bar been an integral part of the National Bar
with allegiance thereto, I most humbly adopt the statement of the
National President and wish to reproduce the relevant part thereof
here as follows:
“The NBA is deeply worried that despite the clear provisions
of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as
altered) which consecrate the autonomy of the Judiciary, the
Executive arm of Government, particularly at the State level, has
customarily refused to comply with the provisions of the
Constitution, which are targeted at safeguarding the independence
of the Judiciary.
The NBA is aware of the judgment of the Federal High Court
of 13th January 2014 which unequivocally confirmed the autonomy of
the Judiciary in line with the spirit and letters of the
Constitution. While that judgment was followed by a Memorandum of
Understanding between JUSUN and relevant stakeholders under which
parties agreed to conscientiously give effect to the judgement of
the Court, that has not been the case for seven years after the
landmark judgment. This situation does not augur well for our
constitutional democracy, as it suggests that members of the
Executive arm of Government, who swore to uphold the principles of
the Constitution, can flout it, with impunity.
The Judiciary is an equal arm of Government relative to the
Executive and the Legislature, and its independence is fundamental
to the effective discharge of its mandate under the Constitution. A
situation where the Judiciary literally begs for its resources from
the Executive arm, as is currently the case across several States,
cannot guarantee its independence, and constitutes an affront to
the Constitution and the Rule of Law.
The NBA is equally aware that the Executive Order No. 10
signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, on the 20th of May 2020
which, to a large extent, sought to address this constitutional
imbroglio by treating the funds due to the State Judiciaries as a
first line charge, and requiring that the funds be paid directly to
the Heads of Court concerned. However, information available to the
NBA shows that the State Governors have challenged the Executive
Order, citing constitutional infractions.
The NBA is of the considered view that the provisions of
Section 121(3) of the Constitution on the financial autonomy of the
State Judiciaries are clear and do not really need the instrument
of an Executive Order to give effect to them. To the contrary, it
is a simple matter of enforcement by the States as the Federal
Government has admirably done in respect of the Judiciary at the
Federal level.
However, as commendable and laudable as the proposed strike
action may be, the NBA is concerned about its timing and the
potentially devastating consequences it would pose for justice
administration in the country, particularly coming on the heels of
prolonged lull in judicial activities owing to the Covid-19
pandemic and the enforced lockdowns.
Across the country, the Courts are trying to play catch-up
for lost time, and it would be catastrophic for the administration
of justice for the Courts to be shut down again. This is not to
mention the adverse economic consequences for families and lawyers
alike, who earn a living in one way or the other, by providing
various support services to the Court system.
For the avoidance of doubt, the NBA, as a leading
stakeholder in the justice sector, and in keeping with its motto of
Promoting the Rule of Law is in support of the demands of JUSUN,
and has been a constant voice of advocacy towards enthroning
judicial autonomy. But the timing of an action, is as good as the
action itself.
Against the backdrop of the above, the NBA has reached out
to, and is discussing with JUSUN on the prospects of reconsidering
the strike action at this time, and will provide updates as
discussions progress.”
As I stated recently during a Valedictory Court Session, the
general welfare of judicial officers is in a humiliating state
across the country. Despite that civil servants and political
office holders have had their salaries and other welfare packages
reviewed upward so many times, those of the judicial officers have
remained frozen for several years, and for over a decade in the
case of judges of the superior courts. There is need to take urgent
steps to improve on the welfare of judicial officers in view of the
critical role of the Judiciary in safeguarding the nation’s
democracy. There is no gain-saying that judges do important and
extremely sensitive work. Yet, there has been no corresponding
improvement in the welfare of judicial officers as a result of none
adherence to the constitutional provisions on the financial
autonomy of the judiciary.
There is also poor state of infrastructure in the judicially. It
need to be noted that the infrastructural deficit and lack of
modern facilities to enhance the work of our judges makes it
practically impossible for the court to function effectively.
Observance and implementation of the constitutional provisions on
the financial autonomy of the judiciary as a separate arm of
government will enhance infrastructural development, provide for
better administration of justice, reduce crime and ensure general
peace and tranquillity in the nation.
In Benue State, there are three judicial entities that receive
budgetary allocations from the state budget, namely;
- High Court of Justice
- Customary Court of Appeal, and
- Judicial Service Commission
In the last six years, from 2016 to 2021, allocations to the
above state judicial entities is as shown below:
Table 1: High Court of Justice Budgetary Allocation from
2016 to 2021
| YEAR | PERSONNEL COST | OVERHEAD COST | TOTAL RECURRENT EXPENDITURE |
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE | TOTAL ALLOCATION |
| 2016 | 1,517,147,770 | 161,900,000 | 1,678,047,770 | 445,500,000 | 2,134,547,770 |
| 2017 | 1,718,736,577 | 152,152,200 | 1,870,888,577 | 214,000,000 | 2,084,888,577 |
| 2018 | 1,614,637,585 | 196,000,000 | 1,910,637,585 | 214,000,000 | 2,024,637,585 |
| 2019 | 1,924,835,023 | 438,400,000 | 2,363,235,023 | 523,800,000 | 2,887,035,023 |
| 2020 | 1,230,725,921 | 382,400,000 | 1,613,125,921 | 178,960,000 | 1,792,055,521 |
| 2021 | 1,360,705,586 | 196,860,065 | 1,557,555,651 | 325,870,000 | 1,883,435,651 |
| Total | 8,136,089,541 | 1,527,712,265 | 10,993,490,527 | 1,902,130,000 | 12,806,600,127 |
Table 2: Customary Court of Appeal Budgetary Allocation
from 2016 to 2021
| YEAR | PERSONNEL COST | OVERHEAD COST | TOTAL RECURRENT EXPENDITURE |
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE | TOTAL ALLOCATION |
| 2016 | 165,000,000 | 63,550,000 | 228,550,000 | 35,000,000 | 263,550,000 |
| 2017 | 199,790,007 | 95,557,000 | 295,347,007 | 35,000,000 | 330,347,007 |
| 2018 | 199,790,007 | 104,902,000 | 304,692,007 | 35,000,000 | 339,692,007 |
| 2019 | 184,807,506 | 176,021,200 | 360,828,706 | 260,411,000 | 621,239,706 |
| 2020 | 121,957,554 | 75,519,000 | 197,476,554 | 117,880,000 | 315,356,554 |
| 2021 | 92,400,000 | 67,191,535 | 159,591,535 | 113,726,460 | 273,317,995 |
| Total | 963,745,074 | 582,740,735 | 1,546,485,809 | 597,017,460 | 2,143,503,269 |
Table 3: Judicial Service Commission Budgetary
Allocation from 2016 to 2021
| YEAR | PERSONNEL COST | OVERHEAD COST | TOTAL RECURRENT EXPENDITURE |
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE | TOTAL ALLOCATION |
| 2016 | 84,769,460 | 15,677,500 | 100,446,960 | 60,000,000 | 160,446,960 |
| 2017 | 113,684,115 | 19,591,380 | 132,275,494 | 60,400,000 | 193,675,494 |
| 2018 | 80,000,000 | 19,591,380 | 99,591,380 | 145,000,000 | 244,591,380 |
| 2019 | 80,000,000 | 19,591,380 | 99,591,380 | 145,000,000 | 244,591,380 |
| 2020 | 78,070,000 | 18,001,140 | 96,071,140 | 40,000,000 | 136,071,140 |
| 2021 | 81,844,973 | 9,774,429 | 91,619,402 | 20,000,000 | 111,619,402 |
| Total | 518,368,548 | 102,227,209 | 619,595,756 | 470,400,000 | 1,091, 355,756 |
Sources:
https://www.mofep.be.gov.ng/viewyearlybudget/2017[1]
https://www.mofep.be.gov.ng/viewyearlybudget/2018[2]
https://www.mofep.be.gov.ng/viewyearlybudget/2019[3]
https://www.mofep.be.gov.ng/viewyearlybudget/2020[4]
https://www.mofep.be.gov.ng/viewyearlybudget/2021
Table 4: Summary of Allocation for the Judicial Entities
from 2016 to 2021
| STATE JUDICIAL ENTITIES |
TOTAL RECURRENT EXPENDITURE 2016-2021 |
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
2016-2021 |
TOTAL ALLOCATION
2016-2021 |
| High Court of Justice | 10,993,490,527 | 1,902,130,000 | 12,806,600,127 |
| Customary Court of Appeal | 1,546,485,809 | 597,017,460 | 2,143,503,269 |
| Judicial Service Commission | 619,595,756 | 470,400,000 | 1,091, 355,756 |
| Total | 13,159,572,092 | 2,546,187,460 | 16,041,459,152 |
As can been seen in Table 4 above, the total budgetary
allocation to the three judicial entities making up the judicial
arm of government in the last six years, from 2016 to 2021 is
Sixteen Billion, Forty One Million, Four Hundred and
Fifty-Nine Thousand, One Hundred and Fifty Two Naira
(N16,041,459,152). It is pertinent to note that the above
figure is the budgetary allocation. It is possible that the chunk
of the allocation, especially the Capital Expenditure Allocation
has not been released.
From the Summary of Allocation above, the Total Capital
Expenditure for the Judicial Arm of Government in the last Six
Years is only Two Billion, Five Hundred and Forty-Six Million, One
Hundred and Eighty-Seven Thousand, Four Hundred and Sixty Naira
(N2,546,187,460). This by average is 424 Million Capital
Allocation for the whole judicial arm of government per
annum.
As stated by the NBA President in the statement reproduced
above, “the Judiciary is an equal arm of Government relative to
the Executive and the Legislature, and its independence is
fundamental to the effective discharge of its mandate under the
Constitution. A situation where the Judiciary literally begs for
its resources from the Executive arm, as is currently the case
across several States, cannot guarantee its independence, and
constitutes an affront to the Constitution and the Rule of
Law”.
It is against this background that the NBA Makurdi Branch
identify and support JUSUN for embarking on this strike which seems
to be the only language that our democratic governments hears and
understand.
However, we also adopt the position of our National President
that “the NBA has reached out to, and is discussing
with JUSUN on the prospects of reconsidering the strike action at
this time”.
It is our hope that the National leadership of JUSUN will give
our National President an opportunity for constructive engagement
so that the lingering issue of the Independence of the Judiciary
will be resolved once and for all in our dear country.
We also call on the federal government and all the States in the
federation to observe and implement the constitutional provisions
ensuring the independence of the judiciary without further delay
and in the interest of the Nigerian State.
We conclude that a protracted strike by JUSUN will be
devastating. The plight of accused persons and congested police
cells, plights of inmates awaiting trial in prisons across the
nation, and the frustration of litigants will be better
imagined.
It is our belief that His Excellency, Dr Samuel Ortom, the
Executive Governor of Benue State who is a listening and
progressive Governor will again take the bold step to be the first
among his equals to observe and implement the constitutional
provisions ensuring the independence of the judiciary, and we so
urge.
Thank you all and God bless.
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Long Live the Government of Benue State
Long Live the Nigerian Bar Association
Long Live Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria.
Justin A. Gbagir, Esq.
Chairman