2020/2021 LEGAL YEAR: OLD YENAGOA BAR ADVOCATES PRACTICAL FINANCIAL AUTONOMY FOR THE BAYELSA STATE JUDICIARY

••••Hails Judiciary for signing up for electronic recording system;

••••Stresses need for appointment of new Judicial Officers,
Establishment of a Division of the Court of Appeal in the State, Amendment of Electoral Act to allow e-voting with manipulation-proof features

••••Says Legal Practitioners ready to collaborate with Stakeholders to improve the System

YENAGOA____The Yenagoa and Sagbama Branches of the Nigerian Bar Association chaired by Felix Okorotie, Esq. and George Aderigha, Esq., respectively, have jointly advocated for practical financial autonomy for the Bayelsa State Judiciary to enable it meet its assigned obligations, calling on Government to give practical effect to the enabling Laws.

They stated this in a joint address co-signed by the two Branch Chairmen but presented by Mr. Felix Okorotie, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Yenagoa Branch, at the Court Session to mark the 2020/2021 Legal Year ceremony which held on Friday, 27th November, 2020.

The Yenagoa and Sagbama Bar Leaders in their joint address stated that both Bars are on track as the principal promoters of the rule of Law and have set up teams to provide probono services to victims of security Agencies’ brutality and to observe proceedings of the Panel in the State.

Mr. Okorotie added that the Yenagoa Bar has equally set up a Committee headed by Chief F.D. Lott to interface with the Bayelsa State House of Assembly on the proposed Constitutional amendment of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly, promising that Legal Practitioners are ready to work with Stakeholders towards improving the system.

The Bayelsa Bar hailed the Bayelsa State Judiciary for signing up to electronic recording system, and called on Government to renovate judicial infrastructure in disrepair and for steps to be taken to complete the Magistrate Court Complex under construction as well as to build befitting Judicial Officers’ Quarters.

The two Branches of the NBA in the State also called on Government to do the needful to make the appointment of more Judges visible, stressing that such appointment should be sourced from the private Bar.

Mr. Okorotie equally requested the Government to provide logistical support in aid of the establishment of a Division of the Court of Appeal in the State in the interest of greater access to appellate practice and justice.

Describing the #endsars protest as a metaphor for the leadership gap in society, the two Bars called on Government at all levels to right all wrongs to avoid future occurence, adding that in the interest of producing credible leadership, the electoral Act should be further amended to accommodate e-voting with manipulation-proof features before the 2023 Elections.

Before the Court Session, a Thanksgiving service held at the Greater Evangelism World Crusade, Opolo.

Thereafter, Sen. Douye Diri, Governor, Bayelsa State and Hon. Justice Kate Abiri, Chief Judge, Bayelsa State took salute from a colour party of the Nigerian Police at the High Court premises.

The Honourable, the Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri; His Excellency, the Governor, Sen. Douye Diri and the Honourable Attorney General, Diriyai Dambo, SAN also delivered addresses during the Court session which had in attendance Leaders and Members of all Arms of Government in the State and Legal Practitioners.