By Abdullahi Idris Q: You have just taken the mantle of leadership. What are your blueprints, sir? Barrister Muhammad Shehu: First of al...
By Abdullahi Idris
Q: You have just taken the mantle of leadership. What are your blueprints, sir?
Barrister Muhammad Shehu: First of all, let me appreciate God for bringing us to this moment, and also thank my members for their overwhelming support and for electing me for a second term. It shows a high level of commitment and unity of purpose.
Of course, I have a blueprint. The welfare of my members is paramount in my policy document. It is important to put smiles on their faces and also to critically and effectively address their conditions of service.
We are working tirelessly to ensure that the judicial arm of government becomes financially autonomous, in line with global best practices. This means independence, where the judiciary can perform its duties without any interference.
I would also like to use this opportunity to commend the Bauchi State Government for considering some of our requests, and we believe more are in the pipeline in the best interest of judicial workers.
Autonomy has three components: personnel, capital projects, and overhead costs. So far, the Bauchi State Government has granted us partial autonomy, particularly in terms of overhead costs. We are still pushing for full autonomy in personnel and capital projects. Once achieved, the judiciary will be more effective and impactful.
Q: You also mentioned improving staff welfare. How do you intend to achieve this?
Barrister Muhammad Shehu: Exactly. The government, in its wisdom, asked us to submit proposed plans that will cater for the welfare of our staff. All these proposals are already in the pipeline for full consideration.
Q: How many members do you have across the state?
Barrister Muhammad Shehu: So far, we have about 2,000 registered members across the state. About 1,200 are from the High Court, while approximately 800 are from the Sharia Court of Appeal, along with some members from the Judicial Service Commission.
Q: What are the criteria for membership? Must one be a lawyer?
Barrister Muhammad Shehu: The only criterion for membership is to be a staff of the judiciary in the state. One must also possess good moral integrity and demonstrate commitment to judicial core values, principles, and respect for the rule of law.
Q: What challenges did you face at the beginning of your leadership?
Barrister Muhammad Shehu: Yes, we faced several challenges. We met the union heavily indebted, with funds collected illegally by the previous leadership. There were also several court cases.
However, we addressed these issues in accordance with the law and relevant judicial guidelines. We also had challenges with unity among members, but those have now been resolved amicably. We are proud to say that we are now united.
Q: In your inaugural speech, you promised to promote professionalism and accountability—key elements in building public confidence in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
Barrister Muhammad Shehu: We will do our best to transform the judicial system by ensuring total commitment to professionalism, ethics, and integrity, free from corrupt practices in the discharge of our responsibilities.
For society to develop, there must be an effective justice system free from corruption. This can be achieved by improving the welfare of judicial workers through government support.
Q: Many people believe there are delays in justice delivery in Nigeria, especially in the criminal justice system. What is your view as a lawyer?
Barrister Muhammad Shehu: There is a popular saying in law: “Justice delayed is justice denied.” One of the major causes of delay is inadequate infrastructure. When you go around, you will discover that there are not enough courtrooms.
This affects the speedy dispensation of justice, especially considering the large number of cases. If the government addresses this issue, it will significantly reduce delays in the administration of justice.
We are also working to create synergy among stakeholders and judicial staff, and we are focusing on capacity-building through training and other initiatives.
Q: Do you have a message of hope?
Barrister Muhammad Shehu: I urge the public to have confidence in the judiciary, as this will encourage effective justice delivery. I also call on all our members to have full faith in our leadership.
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