Ibadan – The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola, on Thursday commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s Executive Order 10 enforcing financial autonomy for the legislature and the judiciary in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the order takes effect in the 36 states of the federation as enshrined in Section 121 (3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
Abimbola told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan that autonomy would enhance the performance of the judiciary.
He, however, said that a lot needed to be done in order not to impede the autonomy and independence granted to the two arms of government.
“The financial autonomy will assist in the administration of justice generally.
” The independence I’m talking about first and foremost has funding at the background.
“There are a lot of things that need to be done in our court rooms, particularly if you look at our proceedings.
” If you go outside the country, you’ll see that proceedings are done electronically.
“A judge just sits and listens to the proceedings and at the end if the day, the proceedings are typed out and distributed.
“ We do not have such facilities here in Nigeria and it has been very difficult,” he said.
The chief judge said availability of adequate funds for the judiciary would help tackle many challenges and facilitate quick delivery of judgement.
“When we talk about independence, even Montesquieu who propounded seperation of powers did not put it in a water tight compartment.
“There will be coordination and pattern among other things. We are not talking about independence in that light.
“We mean independence in performing our duties so that the executive won’t come saying this is what I want by way of decision and that is what a judge should do.
“Tbe independence we are talking about is that we are able to stand on our own and be able to look at the face of the law and determine matters, not the face of the personalities behind it,” he said.
