The Chief Judge of Bauchi State, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar, has inaugurated the State Local Government Election Tribunals, Appeal Tribunal, Family Court 1 at the Magistrate level and the Right of Way Mobile Court, charging members to discharge their responsibilities with absolute impartiality, independence and fidelity to the law.
Justice Umar performed the inauguration on Wednesday, describing the appointments as a recognition of the competence, integrity and commitment of the appointees to the administration of justice.
“I hereby formally inaugurate the Local Government Election Tribunals and the Appeal Tribunal of Bauchi State, Family Court 1 at the Magistrate level, and the Right of Way Mobile Court, and wish all members a successful tenure,” she said.
Congratulating the appointees, the Chief Judge reminded them that the responsibilities entrusted to them were solemn and required the highest standards of fairness, professionalism and judicial independence.
She explained that the Local Government Election Tribunals were constituted to adjudicate disputes that may arise from the forthcoming local government elections in the state.
Justice Umar urged tribunal members to discharge their duties without fear or favour, affection or ill-will, and to accord equal treatment to all political parties irrespective of political affiliation, status, background or position in society.
The Chief Judge stressed that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done, urging members to resist every form of pressure, influence or interference that could undermine the integrity of their assignments.
She directed that every matter brought before the tribunals should be determined strictly on the evidence presented and the applicable law.
According to her, the judiciary remains a critical pillar of democracy, and public confidence in the electoral process depends significantly on the ability of courts and tribunals to resolve electoral disputes independently and impartially.
Justice Umar warned that the credibility of the forthcoming local government elections would be strengthened where aggrieved parties have confidence that disputes arising from the process would be resolved fairly and in accordance with the law.
She equally charged members of the newly inaugurated Family Court and Right of Way Mobile Court to approach their responsibilities with diligence, fairness and professionalism.
“I equally urge members of the Family Court and the Right of Way Mobile Court to approach your respective assignments with the same level of diligence, fairness, and professionalism,” she said.
The Chief Judge maintained that all the newly inaugurated adjudicatory bodies must uphold the rule of law and avoid conduct capable of creating an appearance of bias or undermining public confidence in the justice system.
The Bauchi South Tribunal and Special Court will operate from the premises of the Bauchi State High Court in Bauchi, while the Bauchi North Tribunal and Special Court will sit at the High Court premises in Azare.
For the Central Zone, the Tribunal and Special Court will operate from the Magistrate Court premises in Ningi.
The inauguration comes ahead of the forthcoming local government elections in Bauchi State, with the tribunals expected to handle disputes arising from the electoral process while the appeal tribunal will determine appeals from their decisions.
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